Tag Archives: EFCC

Sagay: Magu will be there whether the Senate likes it or not.

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Itse Sagay, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, says the appointment of Ibrahim Magu, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), will be “renewed” whether he is confirmed or not.

On Thursday, the senate refused to confirm Magu’s appointment after leaving the matter pending for five months.

But in a previous chat with The Interview, which was only revealed on Thursday, Sagay said: “Whether they like it or not, he (Magu) will be there. His chairmanship will keep on being renewed.

“Since Nuhu Ribadu left, we have not had a man with such sterling qualities as Ibrahim Magu and whether they like it or not, Magu will be there until he completes his term under the law.”

The EFCC chairman has a four-year tenure. From the EFCC Act, non-confirmation does not impair his duties.

Azu Ishiekwene, managing editor (MD)/editor-in-chief, described the edition as “arguably the best kept secret in the anti-corruption war”.

In the interview, Sagay said Magu’s delayed confirmation was “corruption fighting back”.

Also speaking on corruption in the judiciary, he said what retiring chief justices collect off the books is “frightening and totally unrelated to what the judiciary is entitled to”.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) recently suspended seven justices on allegations of corruption and two of them have so far been arraigned.

The Interview said its investigations, which Sagay neither confirmed nor denied, indicated that the NJC pays retiring justices up to N800m in cash and provides a house valued at N500m, off the books.

The practice started around 2010 and virtually all retired CJs have benefited from it.

“Something very serious is happening there,” Sagay said.

“Those rumours have some basis.”

Alleged N22.8 billion fraud: Witness testifies against Nigeria’s former Air Force chief

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A prosecution witness, Tosin Owobo, on Thursday narrated before a Federal High Court in Lagos how a former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu, and others converted about N1.8 billion to their private use.

Mr. Amosu is charged alongside two other officers of the Air Force – Jacob Adigun, an air vice marshall, and Gbadebo Olugbenga, an air commodore.

Also charged are some companies – Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil and Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, and Fonds and Pricey Ltd.

The accused are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Mohammed Idris.

They were arraigned on June 26 and had pleaded not guilty to the charges, with the judge granting them bail in the sum of N500 million each with two sureties each in like sum.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, Mr. Owobo, an assistant detective superintendent with the EFCC, testified before Justice Mohammed Idris.

He said that in 2015, the Commission received an intelligence report on large scale misappropriation of funds in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.

Mr. Owobo said that the report was from a special task force saddled with the responsibility of investigating government agencies.

He said that upon receiving the report, the commission discovered that there was a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NIMASA and the Nigerian Air Force, NAF.

The witness said that the first set of the MOU was signed by a former Chief of Air Staff, Alex Badeh.

He said that after receiving the MOU, his team requested for the payment vouchers between NIMASA and NAF, and they discovered that a total sum of N1.8 billion was paid to some Bureau De Change operators.

According to him, the operators later converted the money into United State Dollars.

The witness said that the monies were paid into the account of one Gbadebo domiciled with Skye Bank.

He further informed the court that the Commission analysed the accounts, and called for the account opening documents.

At this point in his testimony, defence counsel, Bolaji Ayorinde, raised objection to the witness giving evidence in relation to the statements of the Bureau De Change operators.
His objection was also adopted by other defence counsel.

The situation forced the court to adjourn the case to January 25 and 26, to rule on whether the witness can give evidence on the bureau de change operators’ statements.

The charges against the accused persons border on conspiracy, stealing and money laundering.

In one of the counts, the accused were said to have indirectly converted the sum of N3.6 billion belonging to the Nigerian Air force to their own use.

In another, the EFCC alleged that Mr. Amosu and the others stole over N323 million from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force between March 21, 2014 and March 12, 2015.

The anti-graft body said the accused carried out the theft for the purpose of purchasing for themselves a property situated at No.1, River Street, Wuse II Abuja.
The alleged offences were said to have contravened the provisions of Sections 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

Inside the intrigues that blocked Magu from top EFCC job

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The Senate’s refusal to confirm Ibrahim Magu as head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, was months in coming. In the end, it was a rancorous power-play involving the Senate, the State Security Service, and the Presidency that sealed Mr. Magu’s fate.

At a hurriedly arranged press conference Thursday, the spokesperson for the senate, Abdullahi Sabi, announced that Mr. Magu’s nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari as EFCC chairman had been rejected.

He cited “security report”, and said the president would be informed of the decision.

Several top security officials and lawmakers have shared with PREMIUM TIMES key elements of that report, and the sequence of events leading up to the Senate’s decision.

They also gave details of the high-wire intrigues that worked against Mr. Magu, a senior police officer who has managed to inject vigour into the nation’s fight against graft, while generating a whirling controversy with his tactics.

The principal charge against Mr. Magu, our sources said, was the allegation that the chief corruption fighter himself seemed tainted.

The SSS report pointed at Mr. Magu’s N20 million-a-year rental home, and the expensive air transport service he allegedly once enjoyed, at an estimated N2.5 million.

The service involved a private jet belonging to former Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Umar, which transported Mr. Magu from Kano. Mr. Umar, a close friend to the EFCC boss, is facing corruption charges.

The report also noted that Mr. Magu had once been arrested when Farida Waziri headed the EFCC, for stashing official government files at home. EFCC files were also found at Mr. Umar’s home more recently when the property was searched by SSS agents, one source said.

Mr. Magu did not respond or return our calls Thursday. He did not speak to journalists at the National Assembly.

In earlier comments when faced with same allegations, he told PREMIUM TIMEs and other media that he was given the official apartment by the Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA), and was unaware of its worth.

He also explained that the files found in his home at the time were documents he took home to enable him attend to pressing official duties.

Beyond the report

But multiple sources at the National Assembly and the Presidency agreed the report merely provided a cover to an interplay of power between the Presidency, the Senate and the SSS.

“By and large, it was more or a turf war, and an issue of personal difference between Mr. Magu and the SSS Director General, Lawan (Daura),” one source said.

Outside the National Assembly, the hushed confrontation had been mostly between two camps, involving top Buhari administration officials, they said.

Mr. Magu’s camp has the National Security Adviser, Mohammed Monguno, a retired Major General, and Mr. Umar, a former member of the presidential panel of military arms procurement.

The opposing camp, which for months canvassed M.D. . Magu’s removal, PREMIUM TIMES understands, has the SSS boss, Mr. Daura, Interior Minister Abdulrahman Dambazau, and President Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.

Our sources said for weeks, both camps lobbied senators for or against Mr. Magu, and the second camp aggressively pushed the “security report”.

While the report had long been received by the leadership of the Senate, it was not distributed to senators, officials said. It was read to Senators on Thursday.

By then, both sides had won fairly good numbers of lawmakers to their camps, and the two sides agreed Mr. Magu should neither be confirmed nor rejected as EFCC chairman.

Instead, Senators advised the president be informed of the SSS report and be asked for his view, in the hope that if the president persisted, then Mr. Magu would be confirmed.

Lawmakers said when Mr. Magu and other nominees were summoned at Thursday’s closed-door session, he was not asked to respond to the allegations against him.

“They only informed them of the report and told them everything will be sent back to the president,” one source said.

President fingered

Several officials and lawmakers questioned the role of President Buhari in the matter, saying the plot succeeded because the president had himself become apathetic about keeping Mr. Magu at the post.

Lawmakers pointed to the report emanating from the SSS, which they said was copied to the president.

“It is impossible for the president to nominate someone for confirmation and for another of his appointees to write a damning report against the person and send to the senate,” one lawmaker said.

A presidency source said the president was clearly not keen about retaining Mr. Magu, and did not want to withdraw his nomination to avoid offending Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

“Remember it was the vice president who sent the letter for his confirmation to the Senate,” one presidency source said. “This works somehow because people can now blame the Senate.”

The source said ahead of the Senate session, when repeatedly asked about Mr. Magu’s confirmation, the president’s reaction had always been that he should go through the senate screening process and if he succeeded, that would be fine.

INSIDER SCOOP: How Senate rejected Magu as EFCC chairman

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The rejection of Ibrahim Magu’s nomination as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission marked the end of months of delay by the Senate to act on President Muhammadu Buhari’s request.

The Presidency requested the Senate to confirm Mr. Magu’s nomination in July through a letter signed by Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo in his capacity as the acting president when Mr. Buhari was away on a medical trip.

However, since the letter was read by Senate President Bukola Saraki on July 14, the Senate showed no readiness to act on it until last week.

After failing to hold the confirmation hearing last week, the Senate said it would screen Mr. Magu today, Thursday.

But indications that Mr. Magu would face difficulties emerged Thursday morning during a meeting of the Senate leadership ahead of the plenary.

There was disagreement over the mode of the screening. While some Senators were for an open screening of Mr. Magu at plenary, some were opposed to it, saying the EFCC nominees should rather be referred to the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption for screening.

Later, Dino Melaye and Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, exchanged insults openly.

Due to the disagreement, the Senate was little over an hour late to commence sitting. Then, the Senate dissolved into an executive session which lasted over one hour.

During the executive session, Mr. Magu was invited into the chamber and stayed “for about 15 or 20 minutes”.

But the Senators had already made up their minds, it seems.

BREAKING: Magu’s Confirmation Leads To Rowdy Session In The Senate.

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The plan to conduct the screening of the Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission today is causing confusion at the Senate.

The lawmakers are currently in a close-door executive session over the matter.

It was reliably learnt that the usual pre-session meeting of the principal officers, which holds at the Senate President’s office, was rowdy this morning as senators were said to have engaged themselves in a shouting match.

A source who witnessed the clash said the Leader of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume and Senator Dino Melaye, who was alleged to be against Magu’s confirmation, specifically engaged themselves at the meeting.

Although the screening had been listed on the Order Paper as part of activities at the chamber today, it is uncertain if the exercise will hold due to the latest development.

Details later…

FLASH: EFCC Chairman-designate, Mr Magu awaits confirmation session at the NASS

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Information reaching Omojuwa.Com from inside the National Assembly revealed that the Senate is locked in a closed door session since the last hour whilst Mr. Magu, Chairman-designate of EFCC waits patiently in a holding room for his confirmation that is slated to hold today.

 

Recall that the Nigerian Senate rescheduled Mr Magu’s confirmation to December the 15th.

 

The Presidency had in July written the Senate seeking the screening and confirmation of Mr. Magu as substantive chairman of the commission.

 

President Muhammadu Buhari had appointed Mr. Magu as acting chairman of the EFCC after the removal of Ibrahim Lamorde on November 9, 2015.

 

Before his appointment, Mr. Magu was the Head of Economic Governance Unit of the commission.

 

If confirmed, Mr. Magu will be the fourth head of the anti-graft agency, after Nuhu Ribadu, Farida Waziri and Ibrahim Lamorde.

Excess bank charges qualify as economic and financial crimes – Dr Ogubunka

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The quantum of excess charges (more than N70 billion recovered for bank customers in the last few years) being witnessed in the country’s banking industry is a source of serious concern for many people who are silently and curiously questioning whether the charges qualify as “economic and financial crimes”. And if so, should the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) play any roles in check-mating these crimes that have sent businesses to their early graves, increased the number of unemployed people in the economy, impaired the well-being of many households and eroded confidence of many stakeholders in the Nigerian banking system? The two questions are heavily pregnant; and answers may bring forth off-springs that may tilt the apple cart.

 

According to USLegal .com “economic crimes refer to illegal acts committed by an individual or a group of individuals to obtain a financial or professional advantage. In such crimes, the offender’s principal motivation is economic gain”. Similarly, Encyclopedia.com states that “economic crime is an illegal act in which offenders’ principal motivation appears to be economic gain”. On the other hand, Wikipedia defines “financial crimes as crimes against property, involving the unlawful conversion of ownership of property (belonging to one person) to one’s own personal use and benefit”.

 

A merger of the two sides of the definitions of economic and financial crimes finds a working and practical expression in Section 5(1) (b) of Nigeria’s law on the subject. That law, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2002 enumerates acts considered to be economic and financial crimes. The listed acts are “advance fee fraud, money laundering, counterfeiting, illegal charge transfers, futures market fraud, fraudulent encashment of negotiable instruments, computer credit card fraud, contract scam, etc”. Notice the ‘etc’ in the provision which is indicative that economic and financial crimes as captured in the EFCC Act are in-exhaustive.

 

From the above definitions and formal identification of some crimes that fall within the catchment of the law, the answers to the questions earlier posed are obvious. Simply put, excess bank charges qualify as forms of economic and financial crimes. It is not in doubt that, to make economic gains is what motivates banks to impose excess charges on their customers. The banks that make such charges illegally convert the assets/property (money) of their customers for their own use and benefit.

 

In this country, the handling of cases of economic and financial crimes has been provided for under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2002. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has the responsibility of implementing the provisions of the Act in order to give effect to the intendments of the law-maker in the interest of the generality of citizens, including bank customers. The enabling Act of EFCC in Section 5 sub-sections 1(b) and 1(e) specifically mandates the Commission to “investigate all financial crimes…” and to adopt “measures to eradicate the commission of economic and financial crimes”. In Section 12 sub-sections 1(a) and 1(b), the Commission is also expressly charged with ensuring the “prevention and detection of offences in violation of the provisions of this Act” and the “arrest and apprehension of economic and financial crime perpetrators”.

Thus far, from public knowledge, has the Commission carried out its above highlighted duties with regard to the on-going economic and financial crimes known as excess bank charges? Even, has there been any public statement from EFCC concerning the rising cases of these crimes in the banking industry? Why is the Commission keeping sealed lips about this illegality which the apex regulator in the banking industry, the CBN, has openly confirmed to account for the greatest number of bank customers’ complaints?

 

There may be many reasons to explain the failure or neglect of EFCC in attending to the issues of excess bank charges but the inescapable and most cogent one is that the Commission seems not to understand that excess bank charges are forms of economic and financial crimes. The second is that the Commission may not have appreciated that its mandate and powers cover the crimes of excess charges by banks. Third, the Commission may erroneously believe that the amount involved in the excesses is very small and therefore of little or no significance. Fourth, the human capacity of the Commission may be inadequate to enable it to focus some attention away from politicians to happenings in the banking industry. Finally, the Commission may have directly or indirectly been compromised to keep a blind eye and sealed lips.

 

Whatever the reasons or excuses for the EFCC to have done nothing about some banks’ practice of committing economic and financial crimes through imposition and collection of excess charges from their customers, the cry by bank customers and even other stakeholders for intervention to stop such practice is getting louder and deafening. This is justified by the rising incidence of the illegality, the huge amount involved and the gross negative implications. That nothing has been done and seen to have been done to seriously bring perpetrators of these acts to book, in line with the EFCC law, is a major contributor to the festering of the crimes in the hands of national wealth custodians who should be trusted. If bank customers can no longer trust their banks who will they and what promises await the economy?

 

The EFCC cannot continue to pretend that it does not know that it has a significant responsibility under its enabling law to protect the citizens, in this case, bank customers. It is, therefore, high time the Commission roused itself to confront these deadly corporate crimes as clearly specified in its enabling law. Hopefully, bank customers will soon be relieved of worries about excess charges.

 

– Dr. Ogubunka, a financial and management consultant, is the President, Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN)

Why Fayose’s Account Cannot Be Unfrozen – By Johnson Adebayo

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One Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the federal high court sitting at Ado Ekiti State is reported to have ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to defreeze and return to Mr. Ayo Fayose, the governor of Ekiti State the sum of N300 million traced to the Zenith bank. Mr. Fayose had claimed that the money was part of the campaign fund donated to him by the management of Zenith bank. The cock and bull story of Mr. Fayose was vehemently denied by Zenith Bank. To corroborate the denial of the bank, the EFCC has revealed how the sum of N1.2 billion was taken to the Ado Ekiti branch of the zenith bank from the office of the National  Security Adviser under the retired  Col. Sambo Dasuki.

 

Since another federal high court presided over by Justice Mohammed Idris sitting in Lagos had authorized the freezing of the same account the order of Justice Taiwo Taiwo is illegal and ought to be ignored by the EFCC. In the course of the proceedings before him, it was disclosed to  Justice Taiwo Taiwo that the N300 million was part of the N1.2 billion traced to Mr. Fayose from the Dasukigate. Apart from Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro who has admitted that he handed over, he said the sum of N1.2 billion to Mr. Fayose the criminal trial has commenced in respect of the stolen fund. Since Mr. Fayose currently enjoys immunity and cannot be arrested his agent, Mr. Abiodun Agbaje is now standing trial for keeping part of the loot. Why then was Justice Taiwo Taiwo in a hurry to transfer the proceed of crime to Mr. Fayose? Did he establish the legitimate ownership of the money?

 

With the facts of the Dasukigate which are within public knowledge, what was the basis of the order of Justice Taiwo Taiwo to the effect that part of the loot be returned to Mr. Fayose? Was it meant to destroy the evidence of the proceed of crime so as to exonerate Mr. Fayosr? Since Justice Taiwo Taiwo is not unaware of the illegality of his order, he has set out to destroy the evidence of Mr. Fayose’s criminality so that upon leaving office he cannot be tried.  Unfortunately for Justice Taiwo Taiwo all the agents of Mr. Fayose including Abiodun Agbaje have implicated him. Mr. Obanikoro has also nailed him. In fact, the former minister has refunded part of his own share of the loot. Mr. Iyiola Omisore has equally made a refund of part of the N1.3 billion traced to him from the same illicit transaction.

 

Some human rights organizations have challenged Justice Taiwo Taiwo for converting his Court to a Court of Appeal over another federal high court which had ordered that the disputed account be frozen. Once again, the federal high court presided by two judges have given conflicting orders on the Fayose loot. Justice Idris had earlier ordered the freezing of the account. Justice Taiwo has now ordered that the same account be defrozen!  Since the order of Justice Idris was tendered before Justice Taiwo Taiwo it is clear that he deliberately set out to ridicule the Nigerian judiciary which is currently enmeshed in corruption. The National Judicial Council should investigate the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the order of Justice Taiwo Taiwo .

 

Furthermore, Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN,  the lawyer of Mr. Fayose should be asked to explain why he engaged in forum shopping by filing a fresh suit before Justice Taiwo Taiwo instead of taking steps to set aside the order of Justice Idris or appeal against it to the Court of Appeal.  This lawyer should be disciplined for setting the two courts of coordinate jurisdiction against each order. The disgraceful conduct of Justice Taiwo Taiwo and Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN should be not be allowed to go unchallenged. We just cannot continue to expose the country’s judiciary to avoidable embarrassment for pecuniary interests.

After 8 years, Ladoja’s N4.7 billion money laundering trial starts afresh

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday re-arraigned a Rashidi Ladoja before a Federal High Court, Lagos, over N4.7 billion alleged money laundering.

Wednesday’s arraignment occurs eight years after the former Oyo governor was first charged.

Mr. Ladoja is charged alongside his former aide, Waheed Akanbi, on eight counts bordering on the alleged offence.

The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After their pleas, the prosecutor, Oluwafemi Olabisi, asked the court to fix a date for commencement of trial.

In response, defence counsel, Bolaji Onilenla and Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, informed the court of their clients’ bail applications.

Mr. Onilenla, representing Mr. Ladoja, urged the court to allow his client continue on the bail conditions earlier granted him in 2008 by Justice A.R. Mohammed.

He submitted that the first accused had kept good faith with the terms and conditions of the bail and that there was no single incidence of default.

He assured the court that his client will “behave himself’’ and make himself available for trial.

According to Mr. Onilenla, in case the court is not inclined to allowing Ladoja to continue with the previous bail, then the court should grant bail on liberal terms.

The counsel to the other accused, Olumide-Fusika, also aligned himself with the submissions of Onilenla.

The prosecutor objected to the bail application and urged the court to refuse the same on the grounds that the accused had frustrated trial for years through their appeals challenging the competence of the charges.

Ruling, Justice Mohammed Idris held that the court could not deny the accused bail on account of exercise of their constitutional rights of appeal, resulting in the delay of the case.

The court added that there was no evidence that the accused breached the terms of the bail granted them eight years ago.

The court, therefore, allowed the accused to continue with the bail as granted by Justice A.R. Mohammed eight years ago.

Mr. Idris held: “It is not out of place for this court to revalidate the order of A.R. Mohammed.”

He adjourned the case to February 14, 15 and 16, 2017 for commencement of trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Mr. Ladoja was granted bail on September 5, 2008, in the sum of N100 million with two sureties in like sum.

In the charge marked FHC/L/336C/08, the EFCC alleged that the duo conspired to convert properties and resources derived from an illegal act, with the intention of concealing their illicit origin.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that Mr. Ladoja used N42 million out of the proceeds to purchase an Armoured Land Cruiser Jeep, and remitted about £600,000 to one Bimpe Ladoja in London.

The offences are said to have contravened the provisions of sections 14 (a) and 17 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.

BREAKING: EFCC has arrested former FCT minister Bala Mohammed over N1Tr Fraud

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Information reaching Omojuwa.Com has it that EFCC has arrested former FCT minister Bala Mohammed over controversial N1trillion land swap deal carried out between 2010-2015.

 

EFCC Sources say about 12 properties have been seized from Bala Mohammed and his son, who he allegedly used in buying many properties.

 

More details about the unfolding development will be published later.

EFCC vows to appeal court order unfreezing Fayose’s accounts

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday vowed to appeal an order by a Federal High Court asking it to defreeze the bank accounts of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti.

The court sitting in Ado-Ekiti and presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo had earlier in the day ordered Zenith Bank to immediately unfreeze Mr. Fayose’s two bank accounts.

The judge said the EFCC did not adhere to laid down regulations in ordering the bank to freeze the accounts.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the accounts were frozen on June 21 over suspicion that they were receptacles of crime proceeds.

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission had taken steps to appeal against the order.

Mr. Uwujaren said, “The EFCC has been drawn to the order by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti, state asking it to defreeze the accounts of Governor Ayo Fayose in Zenith Bank.

“While the commission awaits the certified copy of the ruling, it is important to point out that this order contradicts another order by Justice M. B Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

“The first order gave the commission the nod to freeze the accounts pending the conclusion of investigation.
“This order from a court of coordinate jurisdiction was not set aside by Justice Taiwo.

“In spite of this, the commission has taken immediate steps to appeal against the order by Justice Taiwo”, he said.

N1tn Abuja Land Scam: EFCC Seizes 12 Properties From Bala Mohammed, Son

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has seized at least 12 properties from a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, and his son, Shamsudeen Bala.

It was learnt on Tuesday that the seizures were part of investigations into a controversial land swap deal carried out by the minister to the tune of N1tn between 2010 and 2015.

“So far, we have seized about 12 properties from Bala Mohammed and his son, who he used in buying many properties. However, this is just a tip of the iceberg because we found out that there are still a lot of properties to be recovered’’, a source in the EFCC said on Tuesday.

“After investigations, we will arraign Bala (ex-minister) before an FCT High Court while his son will be arraigned before a Federal High Court anytime from now, the source added.”

Mohammed, who has been in EFCC custody for over six weeks, is alleged to have entered into some controversial land deals and allegedly gave some landed properties to his cronies for the construction of malls.

The source said, “We have evidence that the ex-minister diverted funds from Internally Generated Revenue. He also gave land arbitrarily to friends without following due process. Some of the land had even been allocated to other people but seized from them unjustly.”

Already, the commission has grilled a former Chairman of Skye Bank, Tunde Ayeni, who was also the Chairman of ASO Savings & Loans Plc over the purchase of the N7.5bn ASO Grove Estate at the Maitama area of Abuja by the bank through the ex-minister.

Read More: punchng

Vice Chancellor Docked For Alleged N800 Million Fraud Returns Money To EFCC

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The embattled Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta,  Olusola Oyewole, and others accused of corruption have refunded N6.5 million to the anti-graft agency, EFCC.

Mr. Oyewole is facing criminal charges for allegedly misappropriating N800 million belonging to the university. He was charged to court alongside the university’s Pro-Chancellor, Adeseye Ogunlewe, and Bursar, Moses Ilesanmi.

The three were accused of benefitting from various illegal allowances not approved by Nigeria’s Salaries and Wages Commission.

Investigation showed that Mr. Oyewole  refunded N2.5 million on December 6 from the illegal allowances he allegedly collected to finance his daughter’s wedding. Four other staff  of the university also refunded a total of N4 million from similar illegal allowances.

A spokesperson of the EFCC zonal office in Ibadan, Ayo Oyewole, confirmed that some money was returned by suspects in the matter.

“The Commission will ensure that everybody who benefited from the illegal allowances return whatever they collected to the coffers of the university,” he said.

The monies returned so far are, however, a far cry from the N800 million that the EFCC says Mr. Oyewole and others mismanaged.

The university’s spokesperson, Emi Alawode, declined comment saying the matter was already in court.

Read More:

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/217853-vice-chancellor-docked-alleged-n800-million-fraud-returns-money-efcc.html

EFCC Withdraws Charge Against Former FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), yesterday withdrew the five-count charge brought against former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed.

The charges marked CR/43/2016 were earlier  filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Gudu.

When the case came up yesterday for his arraignment before Justice Abubakar Talba, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Larry Peters applied to withdraw the charge on the grounds that the Commission wants to put it’s house in order.

His application was not opposed to by counsel to the former minister, Chief Chris Uche (SAN).

Consequently, the charge was accordingly struck out by Justice Talba.

The former minister had also filed a motion for bail through his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, before the said court.

The former minister who was last week released on bail upon order of court after weeks in custody, was in court with many relations, well-wishers and sympathisers.

He was arrested and detained since October 24, 2016, when he went to honour an invitation by the Commission.

Credit:

http://sunnewsonline.com/efcc-withdraws-charge-against-former-fct-minister/

EFCC summons new OAU Vice Chancellor

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There is an uneasy calm at the Obafemi Awolowo University as the Economic and Financial Crimes commission has summoned the Acting Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Anthony Elujoba.

A letter, signed by Oseni Kazeem of the Southwest Zonal Office of the commission in Ibadan, Oyo State, advised the VC and the school’s bursar, Aderonke Akeredolu, to come along with necessary documents.

The letter reads in part, “The office is currently investigating a case in which there is the need to obtain clarification from you. In view of the foregoing, you and your bursar are requested to report to our office for an interview.

“You are also to come along with the following documents: the salary payment schedule/any other payment made to senior staff and junior staff in August and September, 2016; payment vouchers relating to furniture allowances paid to the VC from the day he assumed office to date; certified true copies of the monthly salary pay slips of the VC from the day he assumed office to date.”

The acting Vice Chancellor has been accused of paying allowances without approval. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that a petition was written by an unnamed OAU Staff to the EFCC, who complained about the allowances.

The Public Relations Officer said the money spent could not be said to have been misappropriated.

“The Vice Chancellor has been invited to make clarifications and he would be there, from there we would know what next,” he said.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the Non-Academic staff Union of Universities and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities were planning a protest to show their displeasure over the invite by the EFCC.

Before the acting VC came on board, the two unions had protested non-payment of their allowances for months, forcing the school to close under the former Vice Chancellor, Bamitale Omole.

The school commenced a new semester on Sunday, December 11.

Obanikoro in Fresh N450m Poll Cash Scandal

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday quizzed a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, for allegedly receiving N450m from the Coordinator of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation in Lagos State, Adewale Onilere, during the countdown to the 2015 presidential election.

Operatives disclosed that the N450m was part of the N23bn ($115m) allegedly disbursed to the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 36 states of the federation by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

A source at the EFCC told our correspondent that Onilere, who is the Chairman of the PDP in the Somolu Local Government Area, received N650m from the campaign organisation out of which N450m was given to Obanikoro.

He said, “Onilere received N650m and then delivered N450m to Obanikoro at his house. Onilere gave Obanikoro the money in the presence of some PDP leaders.

“So, on Wednesday, we invited Obanikoro to tell his side of the story. However, Obanikoro denied receiving any money from Onilere.

“Since Obanikoro is currently on administrative bail, we let him go. However, we have invited Obanikoro and Onilere to come to our office in two weeks’ time to face each other. Surely, we will get to the bottom of this.”

In a terse text message, however, Onilere denied handling stolen funds.

“It is certainly false and I know nothing about it. Thanks,” he said.

Obanikoro and his two sons, Babajide and Gbolahan, are currently under a separate investigation involving N4.7bn which was allegedly diverted from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The ONSA, under the leadership of the then National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), was alleged to have paid N4.7bn into the bank account of a company, Sylvan McNamara, in which Obanikoro’s sons were directors.

Obanikoro had said in his statement on oath at the EFCC that after receiving the money in June 2014, he gave N1.219bn to the then governorship candidate of the PDP in Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose; while N1.3bn was given to the PDP candidate in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

He also confessed to giving Fayose a separate $5.377m at Spotless Hotel in Ekiti State in the presence of party stalwarts including the then Ekiti State PDP Secretary, Mr. Tope Aluko.

Obanikoro was said to have kept about N785m for himself, which he allegedly spent while campaigning ahead of the PDP governorship primary in Lagos State, which Mr. Jimi Agbaje won.

However, the EFCC asked him to return about N584m of which he has already returned N137m.

UPDATE: Why Court relaxed bail conditions for allegedly corrupt Ajumogobia

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The failure of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to challenge the applications for bail variation filed by Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and Godwin Obla was a major reason a Lagos court relaxed their bail conditions, Judge Hakeem Oshodi said on Thursday.

Reading a ruling he prepared after adjourning the morning proceedings till 2 p.m., Mr. Oshodi noted that Section 123 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2011, empowers the court to vary bail conditions imposed on defendants at subsequent hearings.

“The prosecution did not oppose the submissions filed by the defendants,” said the judge.

“We must not forget that where facts and applications remain unchallenged or uncontroverted, the court is bound to accept those facts as the truth.”

The defendants, Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia, a serving federal judge, and Godwin Obla, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, are facing a joint 30-count charge of fraud and money laundering brought by the EFCC.

Mr. Obla was a prosecutor for the EFCC.

The duo were jointly charged with a two-count charge of perverting the course of justice by the anti-graft agency.

Mr. Obla was charged with an additional two counts of offering gratification in the sum of N5 million to Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia, a public official during her service as a judge.

Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia faces a 26-count charge of unlawful enrichment, taking property by a public officer, corruption by a public officer, forgery and giving false information to an official of the EFCC.

They pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

On November 28, Mr. Oshodi granted the defendants bail on own recognisance, but added that they should deposit N20 million each and their passport to the chief registrar of the court pending conclusion of trial.

But on Thursday, the defendants brought an application for variation of the bail, saying that the conditions were “too extreme.”

Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia said the EFCC had placed a ‘post no-debit/freezing order’ on all her bank accounts and, in any case, N20 million was “excessive and unaffordable” for her.

She also said the EFCC had collected her travel passport during the course of their investigation of the charges filed against her.

“Bail granted on excessive conditions amounts to a denial of bail,” Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia said.

In his application, Mr. Obla noted that the cumulative monetary value of the offences charged against him was N5 million.

“N20 million is burdensome , the second defendant has made frantic efforts to comply with the conditions of the bail but had found it impossible,” he said.

In his ruling, Mr. Oshodi replaced the N20 million condition with a bail bond of the same sum to be perfected within seven days.

“As at the time of writing this ruling, the court has in its custody the international passports of the defendants,” the judge said.

He also ordered the defendants to depose an affidavit of means in support of the bail bond.

The case was adjourned till January 9, 2017, for continuation of trial.

Senate reschedules Magu’s confirmation to December 15

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The Senate on Thursday rescheduled the screening and confirmation of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, to December15.

The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Bala N’allah, made this known while addressing journalists on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the postponement of the exercise from December 8 to 15 became necessary to allow for a full house to convene.

According to him, lawmakers who travelled out of Abuja for official assignments requested the postponement pending their arrival to enable them participate in the confirmation process.

“The Senate is normally guided by the time frame of the work. We agreed that today will be the confirmation of the EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.

“But we received a lot of calls from senators who are away, who want to participate.

“When we looked at the demand and the number we felt it will be wrong for us to proceed, disregarding those calls.

“We decided to fix it for Tuesday but we were not sure if the President will declare Tuesday as Public Holiday, so we agreed to fix it for Thursday.

“We have since written an official letter to the acting chairman fixing Thursday as the day for the confirmation hearing of his appointment,’’ he said.

On why Mr. Magu’s confirmation had lingered for more than five months, N’allah said the senate had other matters of priority to attend to.

“Anybody who is familiar with the normal procedure of governance would have known that there are certain procedures that need to be taken for candidates to be confirmed.

“Whatever we do is always subject to interpretation but what is important is that a date has been fixed,” he said.

The Presidency had in July written the Senate seeking the screening and confirmation of Mr. Magu as substantive chairman of the commission.

President Muhammadu Buhari had appointed Mr. Magu as acting chairman of the EFCC after the removal of Ibrahim Lamorde on November 9, 2015.

Before his appointment, Mr. Magu was the Head of Economic Governance Unit of the commission.

If confirmed, Mr. Magu will be the fourth head of the anti-graft agency, after Nuhu Ribadu, Farida Waziri and Ibrahim Lamorde.

JUST IN: Senate suspends confirmation of Magu as EFCC Chairman

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The Senate has failed to hold the confirmation hearing earlier scheduled to consider the request of President Muhammadu Buhari that Ibrahim Magu be confirmed as chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

 

The deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, had announced at plenary on Wednesday that the confirmation hearing would hold Thursday, after five months of delay.

 

But the Senate did not list the confirmation in the Order Paper for Thursday eventually.

 

Officials of the EFCC led by the acting Chairman, Mr. Wagu, were at the Senate this morning, awaiting to be called for the hearing.

 

The Presidency had sought the Senate’s request since July through a letter signed by Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo in his capacity as the acting president when Mr. Buhari was away on a medical trip.

 

However, since the letter was read by the Senate Presiden, Bukola Saraki, on July 14, the Senate had not shown readiness to treat the request, fueling allegations that some Senators were trying to block Mr. Magu’s confirmation.

$793,800 bribe: EFCC grills Justice Ajumogobia’s children.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday grilled the children of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia at the Lagos office of the commission for several hours.

Impeccable sources within the EFCC told The PUNCH that the judge’s children were grilled as part of the investigations into the allegations that their mother received a total of $793,800 in several tranches from different sources unlawfully between 2012 and 2015.

Ofili-Ajumogobia was alleged to have collected bribes through a company account in Diamond Bank, Nigel & Colive Ltd, which she owns jointly with her children.

It was through the said account that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Obla, allegedly paid a N5m bribe to the judge.

It was learnt that the EFCC had invited the judge’s children since last week but they refused to honour the invitation.

Operatives were said to have stormedOfili- Ajumogobia’s home located on 18 Lai Ajayi-Bembe Street, Parkview, Ikoyi with a search warrant on Wednesday.

However, on getting to the home, the children were said not to be in the house but the judge’s brother-in-law, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), who is a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, went to speak with the detectives.

He was said to have promised to ensure that the children were brought to the EFCC office in the afternoon.

A detective said, “About a week ago, we gave an invitation letter to Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia and asked her to give it to her two children. However, they never honoured the invitation. So, today (Wednesday), we went to the house with a search warrant but they refused to open the door. A former Minister, Odein Ajumogobia, who happens to be the judge’s brother-in-law, promised us that he would bring the children around 3pm, so we left.

“We invited her children because their names featured in our investigation. So, we invited them to hear their own side of the story. The minister honoured his promise because the children were brought to our officer around 3pm.”

It was learnt that the children were still being grilled as of press time.

The EFCC had on November 28, arraigned Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia and Mr. Godwin Obla on 30 charges bordering on bribery, corruption and money laundering.

The EFCC, in the charges, alleged that Obla, while appearing in a suit numbered FHC/L/C/482c/2010 before Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, offered a gratification of N5m to the judge to allegedly induce the judge to refrain from acting in the exercise of her official duties as a public officer.

Obla, the EFCC claimed, paid the money from the account of his company, Obla & Company Limited, with United Bank for Africa, to Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia through the bank account of Nigel & Colive Ltd in Diamond Bank Plc.

The EFCC claimed that the judge and the SAN acted contrary to sections 64 (1) and 97 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No. 11, 2011.

But they both pleaded not guilty to the offence.

The judge was accused of receiving a total of $793,800 in several tranches from different sources between 2012 and 2015 “so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.”

The EFCC told Justice Oshodi that Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia violated Section 82(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No. 11, 2011.

The judge was further accused of forging a deed of assignment between County City Bricks Development Co. Ltd and Nigel & Colive Ltd dated July 5, 2010, which the EFCC claimed was purportedly prepared and signed by Charles Musa & Co.

The offence was said to be contrary to Section 467 of the Criminal Code, Cap C17, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Finally,Nigerian Senate to screen EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu today.

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The senate will hold a confirmation hearing for Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday.

 

Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president, who presided over a session of the upper legislative chamber, disclosed this on Wednesday.

 

According to him, the board members of the anti-graft agency would also be screened. They are Nasule Moses, Lawan Maman, Garandaji Imam Naji and Adeleke Adebayo Rafiu.

 

In July, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had forwarded Magu’s name to the senate for confirmation.

 

At the time, President Muhammadu Buhari was on a 10-day vacation in London.

 

But the senate did not consider or confirm the appointment of the EFCC boss for months, fuelling speculations of cutthroat wrangling between him and some key figures in Buhari’s government, who want him out of the way.

 

Buhari appointed Magu in November 2015 to succeed Ibrahim Lamorde, who was removed as EFCC chairman under controversial circumstances.

EFCC: Patience Jonathan’s $15.5m is a proceed of crime

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the federal high court in Lagos to dismiss a suit by Patience Jonathan, wife of the immediate past president.

According to THE NATION, the commission filed a counter-affidavit to Patience’s suit, maintaining that the $15.5 million, which the former first lady claims belongs to her, is actually “a proceed of crime”.

In the civil suit before Mohammed Idris, the former first lady is claiming that EFCC froze four of her accounts with Skye Bank in the name of four companies.

The companies are: Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Friday Davis), Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Agbor Baro), Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Dioghowori Frederick) and Avalon Global Property Development Ltd (represented by Taiwo Ebenezer).

The accounts, she said, have a balance of $15,591,700 (about N5 billion) belonging to her. However, on September 15, the companies pleaded guilty and were convicted for laundering the money.

But the judge refused to order the money’s forfeiture to the federal government, until the conclusion of the trial of the others named in the charge.

EFCC arraigned them with Waripamo Dudafa, a former special adviser on domestic affairs to Jonathan; Amajuoyi Briggs, a lawyer; and Adedamola Bolodeoku, a banker.

Dudafa, Briggs and Bolodeoku pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge.

In the suit before Justice Idris, Jonathan is seeking an order to de-freeze the accounts and release her money.

Ifedayo Adedipe, her lawyer, said his client amended her processes. He said he also filed a motion to regularise them, which the court granted.

Oyedepo Rotimi, EFCC’s lawyer, said he would also amend his response to the suit.

“Leave will be granted to the respondent (EFCC) to file any amended process,” the judge held.

Rotimi accused the applicant of changing the companies’ address through which the suit was purportedly served on them.

“We are of the opinion that if you want to change the address of a party, it should not be the adversary who will change the address of another party,” he said.

“What we saw was [that] the applicant was changing the address of the other defendants and I don’t think that is tidy.”

The judge adjourned the case to January 18.

How Research Institute boss diverted N115 million – Witness

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The trial of Benjamin Ogunbodede, a professor and former Director- General, Institute of Agriculture Research and Training, Ibadan, Oyo State, and two others continued on Monday.

A prosecution witness, Toluola Tola-Ukaba, giving detailed account of how in connivance with his co-defendants, he used different company names to divert money meant for the payment of hazard allowance of the staff of the Institute.

Mr. Ogunbodede is being prosecuted alongside Zacheaus Tejumola, Adenose Clement and Jalekun Omotowoju on a 17-count charge of conspiracy, misappropriation and diversion of funds to the tune of N115million before Justice N. Ayo Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Trouble started when the Academic Staff Union of IARTA petitioned the EFCC, alleging that the former DG falsely claimed to have used N115million to pay hazard allowance to its members in December 2013.

They also alleged that, he claimed to have used N15million to harvest crops, when he actually spent N800,000 only.

Tola-Ukaba, an operative of the EFCC, while being led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Nkereuwem Anana, said that the EFCC received a petition dated December 17, 2012 from the Joint Action Committee of Staff Union of the IART, Ibadan regarding the alleged offence.

“The team handling the matter wrote letters to different banks to furnish the Commission with necessary information regarding the transaction that occurred in the personnel emolument account of staff of the institute (IART),” Ms. Tola-Ukaba said.

According to her, the analysis of the information received from one of the banks, Access bank, showed that the Institute received subvention from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to the tune of N606 million in two tranches of N303 million in November and December, 2010.

“A transaction of N177million was initiated from the personnel emolument account to another account of the Institute titled ‘Staff Club Account’ domiciled in Access Bank and whose signatory were the 1st and 2nd defendants (Ogunbodede and Tejumola).

“A detailed statement of account of the ‘Staff Club Account’ revealed that N177million hit the account in two tranches of N81million and N96million. From this account, several withdrawals were made mostly via cheques,” Ms. Tola-Ukaba said.

She added that, “when the operatives of EFCC requested the cheques for the withdrawal from Access Bank, the following were discovered: the cheques were signed by the 1st and 2nd defendants; cheques totaling the sum N156million were drawn in the names of some companies belonging to Jalekan Omotowoju; cheques totaling N15million were drawn in the name of Kunle Ojo and N7.5million was drawn in the name of Adenose Clement”.

Further findings according to the witness showed that, N177million was moved from the personnel emolument account as hazard allowance for staff of the Institute which was never paid.

“The payments made to Omotowoju were not in respect of any contract awarded to him,” Ms. Tola-Ukaba added.

The case has been adjourned to January 16, 2017 for continuation of trial.

How IART Director-General, Others Scammed Institute N115m – Witness

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The trial of Prof. Benjamin Adefemi Ogunbodede, a former Director-General, DG, Institute of Agriculture Research and Training, IART, Ibadan, Oyo State, and two others continued on Monday, December 5, 2016 with a prosecution witness, Toluola Tola-Ukaba, giving detailed account of how in connivance with his co-defendants, he used different company names to divert money meant for the payment of hazard allowance of the staff of the Institute.

Ogunbodede is being prosecuted alongside Zacheaus Tejumola, Adenose Clement and Jalekun Omotowoju on a 17-count charge of conspiracy, misappropriation and diversion of funds to the tune of N115million before Justice N. Ayo Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Trouble started when the Academic Staff Union of  IARTA  petitioned the EFCC, alleging that the former DG falsely claimed to have used the sum of N115million to pay hazard allowance to its members in December 2013. They also alleged that, he claimed to have used the sum of N15million to harvest crops, when he actually spent N800,000 (eight hundred thousand naira only)

Tola-Ukaba, an operative of the EFCC,  while being led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Nkereuwen Anana, stated that the EFCC received a petition dated 17th December, 2012 from the Joint Action Committee of Staff Union of the IART, Ibadan regarding the alleged offence.

“The team handling the matter wrote letters to different banks to furnish the Commission with necessary information regarding the transaction that occurred in the personnel emolument account of staff of the institute (IART)”, Tola-Ukaba said.

According to her, the analysis of the information received from one of the banks, Access bank showed that the Institute received subvention from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to the tune of N606million in two tranches of N303million in November and December, 2010.

“A transaction of N177million was initiated from the personnel emolument account to another account of the Institute titled ‘Staff Club Account’ domiciled in Access Bank and whose signatory were the 1st and 2nd defendants (Ogunbodede and Tejumola).

“A detailed statement of account of the ‘Staff Club Account’ revealed that N177million hit the account in two tranches of N81million and N96million. From this account, several withdrawals were made mostly via cheques”, Tola-Ukaba said.

She added that, “when the operatives of EFCC requested for the cheques for the withdrawal from Access Bank, the following were discovered: the cheques were signed by the 1st and 2nd defendants; cheques totaling the sum N156million were drawn in the names of some companies belonging to Jalekan Omotowoju; cheques totaling N15million were drawn in the name of Kunle Ojo and N7.5million was drawn in the name of Adenose Clement”.

Further findings according to the witness showed that, N177million was moved from the personnel emolument account as hazard allowance for staff of the Institute which was never paid.

“The payments made to Omotowoju were not in respect of any contract awarded to him”, Tola-Ukaba added.

The case has been adjourned to January 16, 2017 for continuation of trial.

Wilson Uwujaren
Head Media & Publicity
6th December, 2016

Banker accused of N8 billion currency scam accuses EFCC of frustrating plea bargain

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Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, has adjourned till December 14 hearing on the plea bargain arrangement between a banker, Tope Akintade, and the EFCC in the case of alleged N8 billion CBN currency scam.

Mr. Akintade’s counsel, Femi Edema, at Tuesday’s hearing accused the anti-graft body of deliberately frustrating his client’s efforts on the plea bargain arrangement.

Mr. Edema told the court that the EFCC Head Office in Abuja had initially certified that all the necessary processes of the plea bargain concerning his client had been completed.

The counsel also lamented the worsening health condition of his client and prayed the court for a short hearing date.

But the prosecutor, Sola Obaribirin, submitted that the plea bargain processes were yet to be fully completed.

He, however, gave an assurance that all necessary steps would be taken for the plea bargain deal to be sealed before the next adjourned date.

The prosecutor further stated that the commission was determined to combine all the plea bargain processes and hearings at once instead of considering them in bits.

Justice Ayo-Emmanuel consequently adjourned the case, which was earlier slated for hearing, over the inability of Mr. Akintade and EFCC to conclude all processes involved in the plea bargain arrangement.

Meanwhile, the bail application filed by Adeola Olaniyan, the fifth accused person, was refused and struck out.

The court held that the reasons for the bail were not cogent and convincing enough.

R.M. Bature, the counsel to Olaniyan, had told the court that the health condition of his client was worsening.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Patient Okoro, Johnson Afolabi, Ibrahim Ilori, Philip Togun, Kolawole Babalola and Fatai Yusuf, along with others, had been standing trial since 2015.

They are facing trial over multiple charges bordering on conspiracy, forgery, theft and recirculation of mutilated N8 billion currencies at the Ibadan branch of CBN.

EFCC: How Biometrics Companies Conspired To Siphon Pension Funds.

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The trial of Ibrahim Ahmed Mazangari, Muhammed Sani Sulaiman, Hajia Fatima Mazangari and Saleh Yerima Tsojon, who are being prosecuted on a 29-count charge bordering on conspiracy, and collecting money by false pretence continued on December 5, 2016 with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presenting its eighth witness.

 

They are alleged to have defrauded the Federal Government in pension funds to the tune of N1.2 billion, purporting same to be monthly pension paid to M. S. Suleiman, Saleh Yerima Tsojon, Isah U. Adamu, Daniel Mikano, and Abdulahi Garba Musa, who were falsely held as pensioners.

 

The defendants allegedly committed the fraud, after they were offered a biometric contract by a former Head of Service of the Federation, HoS, Steve Oronsaye, to regularize names of pensioners on the pensions’ payroll. The fraud allegedly involved two companies – Xangee Technologies Limited and Century Construction Company Limited.

 

Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, O.A. Atolagbe, the witness, Okonkwo Jude, Head, Compliance Unit of Fidelity Bank, Abuja, told the court that the bank was contacted by the EFCC sometime in 2012 with regards to investigations into the accounts of Xangee Technologies Limited, Saleh Yerima Tsojon, and Hajia Fatima Mazangari.

 

Jude identified the various documents, which the bank sent to the EFCC in response to the Commission’s request. The documents, which were marked exhibits 3 and 4, included account opening documents, mandate cards, statements of account, and certificate of identification.

 

“In response to the request of the EFCC, we duly provided them with all the documents,” he said.

 

Reading out details from the documents, Jude told the court that directors of Xangee Technologies Limited were listed as Mazangari Ahmed, and Chiejina Chike Chukwuemeka.

 

Under cross-examination, he said:

 

“The transactions showed that on December 19, 2011 there were three inflows into the account credited from the Office of the Head of Service to the Federation, the first being N28,745,867.34, N28,745,866.33 and N28,745,866.32.”

 

He further added that: “On December 7, 2010 the account was credited with several funds from the Office of the HoS with N9,698,520, N19,800,000, N12,800,600, N4,460,000, and N9,500,000 with narration as biometric enrol, while N2,385,000 was credited into the account from Cippo Pension payroll on August 4, 2011; N9,875,000 was credited into the account on September 26, 2011 from the Office of the Head of Service to the Federation.”

 

Justice Talba has adjourned to December 6, 2016 for continuation of trial.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head Media & Publicity
5th December, 2016

EFCC to grill Jonathan’s ex-ministers, perm secs over N450bn unremitted fund

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is set to grill some ex-ministers who served under the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan as well as some serving and ex-permanent secretaries and directors of budget and finance in charge of revenue-generating Ministries Departments and Agencies, according to report.

The fresh investigation, it was learnt, was sequel to a report by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, that the Federal Government would prosecute any official of revenue-generating agencies indicted in the audit report, which revealed that N450bn was not remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund Account.

The unremitted amount, which involved about 33 revenue-generating agencies of government, was for the 2010 to 2015 fiscal period which falls under the leadership of Jonathan.

Some of the agencies are the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, National Health Insurance Scheme, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and Nigerian Communications Commission.

Others are the Nigerian Postal Service, National Information Technology and Development Agency, Nigerian Television Authority, Bureau of Public Enterprises, National Pension Commission and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc.

The list also has the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria.

It was gathered that the commission would this week interrogate the affected officers, a majority of whom served between 2010 and 2015.

A source at the EFCC said, “We will invite the permanent secretaries of some of the agencies because the permanent secretaries are the chief accounting officers. We will also invite the directors of finance and budget in some of these agencies while the ministers that we believe may have approved such spending will also be invited.

“We discovered that many of these infractions had been taking place but never received much attention from the Federal Government because of the excess oil money during the Jonathan administration. Now that the Federal Government is cooperating fully with us, we will look into the matter thoroughly.

“We discovered that many agencies have never paid any money and never generated any operating surplus including some whose salaries, overheads and capital are paid by the Federal Government. In addition to that, they generate revenue which they spend without any form of control.”

The EFCC said that many of the heads of the agencies were already under probe or were already being prosecuted.

The detective noted that a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, and some directors of the agency were already being prosecuted for an alleged N34.5bn fraud.

The source at the EFCC said, “We are aware that money which was meant to be deposited into the Consolidate Revenue Fund Account was diverted while agencies were making extra-budgetary expenses. In some instances, such was done with the collusion of ministers.

“You are aware that a former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, gave approval to the NCAA to spend N255m on two cars. We have already charged her.’’

The National Assembly had argued that the 31 agencies listed as revenue-generating had their budgets shrouded in secrecy which had let to abuse.

For instance, in the case of the NCAA, the purchase of the two vehicles for Oduah was not listed in the budget by the agency.

The ministry’s own budget too had no plan to purchase any car for the minister or other officials.

Oduah’s spokesman, Joe Ibi, had said that the cars were to protect Oduah from “imminent threats” bred by the minister’s purported radical reforms in the aviation industry.

It was the secrecy that had ostensibly helped NCAA and others spend freely with little or no oversight.

All the funds used by the NCAA were internally generated from charges on airlines, passengers and fines etc as stipulated by the Civil Aviation law.

Between 2009 and 2012, the agency raised N35.3bn and spent all of it on its internal needs, according to the National Assembly Budget and Research Office.

Adeosun had said, “Some agencies have never credited the Consolidated Revenue Fund despite having salary, capital and overhead (expenditures) financed by the Federal Government. Indeed, cost to income rates of 99.8 per cent has been the average, meaning that they spend all their internally generated revenue and subventions released to them.”

EFCC Moves To Arraign 5 More Judges

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All is set for the trial of at least five more judges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The commission has concluded investigation on the judges.

There were indications that cases being handled by the judges before their travails might be reassigned.

The details were being worked out by the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court (NIC).

Also, it was learnt that the EFCC has seized the passport of a Commissioner of Police, Mr. Victor Onofiok who has been detained in connection with alleged N1.9billion fraud.

According to investigation, out of the six judges under probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), only Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia was arraigned last week.

The others awaiting conclusion of investigation and trial are Justices Mohammed Nasir Yunusa; Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa; Musa Haruna Kurya; Agbadu James Fishim; and Uwani Abba Aji.

A top source at the commission, who spoke in confidence last night, said: “We have concluded investigation on all the judges implicated in some bribery scandals. We are already preferring charges against them.

“Five of them will soon be arraigned in court. In fact, some of the lawyers who abetted such bribe offers had been interrogated too with evidence extracted from them. Two of the lawyers are presently on trial.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “Relevant desks are vetting the charges against these judges for filing.”

The EFCC had filed 27 charges against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Rickey Tarfa for allegedly bribing two judges with N2,335,000.

The affected judges are Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa and Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira.

It has also listed eight witnesses against the embattled SAN. But another SAN, Dr. Joseph Nwobike is also in trouble for giving N1,050,000 bribe to the same judges.

All the charges were filed against the two SANs by an Assistant Detective Commander, Mr. G.O. Adebola before the Lagos State High Court. The SANs are presently on trial in Lagos. The latest lawyer on trial is Godwin Obla (SAN) who was arraigned last week with Justice Ajumogobia.

Findings however confirmed that the cases before the troubled judges will be reassigned to their colleagues in order to protect the interest of litigants.

It was learnt that the leadership of the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court had been working on the details.

Another source said: “In line with the directive of the National Judicial Council, the judges have stayed away from sitting but they are still receiving salaries pending the outcome of their trial.

“The only challenge facing the leadership of the Federal High Court and the NIC is how to manage the cases these judges had been handling. There is no way litigants can wait till the trial of these judges is concluded before getting justice.

“We may reassign their cases to other judges. But some of these cases might start afresh especially those at the judgment stage.”

Meanwhile, the EFCC has seized the passport of the detained Commissioner of Police, Onofiok.

The suspect, who is the CP for Works Department at the Force Headquarters, was detained in connection with an ongoing investigation for alleged N1.9billion fraud.

A source in EFCC said: “The travelling passport of the CP has been seized. Detectives are also screening some accounts belonging to him and some of the slush companies linked to the CP.

“The companies include: Dutse Allah Construction Ventures; Nne-Edak Technical Ventures; Puristic Adherent Company; Quality Watch Construction Company and Faksene International.”

A police source said: “Some senior and junior police officers were not surprised about the arrest of the CP Works because he had been warned before against some of his conduct in office.

“We hope the EFCC will do a thorough job like the case with the ex-IGP Tafa Balogun.”

Money Laundering: Ex-Lagos Speaker, Aide File Appeal At Supreme Court

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A former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Ikuforiji Sabit Adeyemi, and his personal assistant, Olabode Alade Atoyebi, have filed an appeal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, challenging a Court of Appeal judgment that recently ordered their re-trial on money laundering charges.

In their separate notices of appeal, the duo’s lawyer, Barrister Abiodun Onidare, is urging the Supreme Court to set aside the whole ruling of the Appeal Court. In their filings, the former Speaker and his aide described the Appeal Court’s decision as unreasonable and unwarranted, adding that the evidence on record could not support the verdict.

Consequently, both Mr. Ikuforiji and Mr. Oyebode want the Supreme Court to uphold their no-case submissions upheld on September 26, 2014 by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

In their notice, the appellants stated that they would file more grounds of appeal once they receive the certified true copy of the judgment given by the Court of Appeal.

The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal had recently set aside Justice Buba’s ruling discharging the former Speaker and his aide of a 56-count charge of conspiracy and the laundering the sum of N500 million belonging to the state legislature. The initial charges stated that the offenses violated sections 15 (1d) and 16(1d) of the Money Laundering Act (MLA) 2004 and 2011.

In a unanimous decision, the appellate court set aside Justice Buba’s verdict, holding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had established a prima facie case against the former Speaker and his personal assistant to require them to enter a defense to the charges brought against them.

In the judgment delivered by Justice Biobela Georgewill, on behalf of the Justices Side Dauda Bage and Ugochukwu Ogakwu, the appellate court also ordered that the trial of the accused legislator and his aide should start afresh before another judge of the Federal High Court, Lagos other than Justice Buba.

Earlier, Justice Buba, in a controversial ruling that discharged the Speaker and his aide, held that the EFCC had failed to establish a prima-facie case against the accused persons. He added that the EFCC had not provided proof of any of the ingredients of the crime of money laundering.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, the EFCC’s counsel, Godwin Obla, filed an appeal dated September 30, 2014 asking the Court of Appeal to hold that Justice Buba erred in law when he held that most of the counts in the indictment were incompetent. Mr. Obla explained that the charges were filed in accord with Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, a law that was repealed by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011. The EFCC also argued that the lower court erred in law when it held that the provision of Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and 2011 only applies to natural persons and corporate bodies other than the government, like the office of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The EFCC also submitted that the trial judge erred by ruling that the case of the prosecution witnesses supported the innocence of the respondents.

In his ruling, Justice Georgewill held that the offenses created by Section 1 of the MLA 2004 and 2011 respectively are strict liability offences, adding that the proof does not depend on the approval and purposes the money was used for. He added that the indictment would be valid once the amount involved was above a certain threshold amount and was not paid or received through a financial institution either by an individual or a body corporate.

There is corruption everywhere, including in EFCC – Magu

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Ibrahim Magu, the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has called for inter-agency collaboration to make the fight against corruption in the country succeed.

He made the call on Friday when he paid a visit to the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur
Buratai, in Abuja.

Mr. Magu said “there is corruption in every institution, including the EFCC.

“The reasons why we are here is that we need everybody’s support. We do not have the monopoly of knowledge to do what we are doing.

“There is corruption everywhere, every institution, including the EFCC. We are battling with internal corruption. So, everybody has a stake in this fight.’’

The acting EFCC chairman then used the occasion to inform the army chief that
the commission had concluded arrangements to mobilise women, including women in uniform on December 7 to join the fight against corruption.

He solicited the cooperation of the army in that regard.

He added that “we also want to appeal to you to join us in fighting corruption. Let’s have a change. If you can discipline yourself, you do not need another person to discipline you. Self discipline is key.’’

Responding, Mr. Buratai assured the EFCC of army’s support in the fight against corruption, noting that the menace was a cankerworm that had eaten deep into the society.

He noted that any effort to fight corruption would be resisted from different quarters, “but once you are steadfast and focused on your responsibility, you will succeed, no matter the resistance.

“We in the Nigerian army have taken it as a policy to ensure that we check ourselves and avoid any situation that will lead to mismanagement and lack of accountability or corruption.”

The army boss observed that a number of Nigerians had for a long time forgotten the basic principle of being accountable to themselves and the society at large.

He said “the erosion of this attribute has affected the general well-being of Nigerians.”

N4.7b: Obanikoro Returns N134m To EFCC, Says He Will Repay N450m Next Year

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A former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, on Monday returned N30m to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. This brings the total amount of money he has returned to the EFCC to N134m.

 

A source at the EFCC said, “Obanikoro came on Monday and presented a draft of about N30m. Initially we did not want to collect it because it is small compared to what he is supposed to have given us. However, the legal department advised us to collect it.”

 

Obanikoro had in October returned N104m to the commission. The ex-minister, who returned to Nigeria last month after spending about 15 months in the United States, was accused of receiving N4.7bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser under the leadership of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

 

Obanikoro had said in his statement of oath at the EFCC that after receiving the money in 2014, he gave N1.219bn to the then governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, while N1.3bn was given to the PDP candidate in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

 

He also confessed to giving Fayose a separate $5.377m at Spotless Hotel in Ekiti State in the presence of party leaders including the then PDP Secretary, Mr. Tope Aluko.

 

Obanikoro was said to have kept about N785m for himself, which he allegedly spent while campaigning ahead of the PDP governorship primary in Lagos State. Mr. Jimi Agbaje won the primary.

 

However, the EFCC asked Obanikoro to return about N584m out of which he had already returned N134m.

 

At the EFCC office on Monday, Obanikoro promised the detectives that he would return the remaining N450m in 2017.

 

The source said, “About N450m is remaining and Obanikoro has promised to pay the rest in 2017. He will also be reporting at our office every two weeks.”

 

At the Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba last week, Mr. Alade Sunday, a manager at Zenith Bank, narrated how Obanikoro delivered about N1.219bn to Fayose’s aide, Abiodun Agbele, for onward transmission to his boss.

 

He had also said it took the cashiers about 10 days to count the money.

 

Sunday had said Obanikoro flew with the cash to Akure Airport and the money was loaded into bullion vans.

 

He had said, “When we got to the airport, we waited for some minutes before the aircraft arrived. When the aircraft offloaded its passengers, one of them appeared to me to be Senator Musliu Obanikoro and the other one appeared to be his ADC, Adewale.

 

“Agbele walked up to them and had a discussion with them. Thereafter, he signalled me to bring the van. Bags loaded with cash were loaded into the van and Obanikoro’s ADC, Agbele and I drove back to the bank.”

 

Meanwhile, it was learnt Omisore had appealed to the EFCC to return his passport to him to enable him to travel out of the country.

 

A source at the commission said, “We cannot return his passport to him now because he has not yet returned half of the money. He has returned only N350m out of N1.3bn. When he returns half, then the EFCC can consider returning the passport to him.”

EFCC seeks to tender documents of over 30 bank accounts against Ex-Gov. Nyako

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The Federal Government on Wednesday sought to tender documents of over 30 bank accounts in evidence against former Gov. Murtala Nyako and seven others who are facing trial in the Federal High Court Abuja.

Mr. Nyako, the former governor of Adamawa and seven others, including companies, are standing trial before Justice Okon Abang on a 37-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The charges against the defendants include criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, opening of multiple bank accounts and stealing to the tune of N29 billion.

The defendants, who were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), allegedly opened over 30 different accounts with Zenith Bank Plc. with the money between 2011 and 2013.

At the resumed sitting, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, sought to tender the documents used in opening the account through the bank’s officer, Olabode Farinoola, who identified himself as a compliant officer.

“Some of the names used by the defendants in opening these accounts are Tropical Agro Farms Clinic Ltd, Redcapet Protocol Ltd, Tower Asset Management Ltd and Government Service Department account.

“Others are office of the secretary to the state government, Muru Ngbula-Joran, Bincola Engineering Service Ltd, Blue Ribbon Service and Travel Tour Ltd and Blue Opal Nigeria Ltd,” Mr. Jacobs said.

Names on the accounts also include Pagoda Petroleum Marketing Ltd, Pagoda Fortunes Nigeria Ltd, Sebore Farms Extension Service Ltd and Blue Opal Nigeria Ltd (Project account).

Also contained in the names of the accounts are Kikary Investment Ltd, Blue Ribbon Multilink Ltd, Russelley Farms Nigeria Ltd, Agric International Tech Trade (Agrited Ltd) and Amdak Investment Ltd, among others.

However, Counsel to Nyako, Kanu Agabi, raised an objection to the request to tender the documents on the grounds that the defendants needed to go through the documents before they could be tendered in evidence.

Mr. Agabi prayed the court to adjourn the matter to enable the defence to go through the documents to ascertain their authenticity as claimed by the prosecution.

He said “I plead for adjournment to enable the defence to go through the documents the prosecution seeks to tender through the witness.”

Other defence counsel agreed with Mr. Agabi’s prayer for adjournment to enable them to go through the documents before being tendered in evidence.

Justice Abang agreed to the prayer and adjourned the matter to Dec. 14 and Dec. 15 to enable the defence counsel to go through the documents sought to be tendered in evidence.

N10m Scam: EFCC Impostor Bags 14 Years Jail Term

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has secured the conviction of a notorious fraudster, Abiodun Edward, a member of a syndicate which specialises in impersonating staff of the agency, to defraud unsuspecting victims.

EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren said in a statement that Edward was arraigned on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 and prosecuted on a 3-count charge of impersonation and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N10million before Justice Beatrice Iliya of the State High Court, Gombe.

“The convict and his accomplices, Murtala Bello and Esther Momoh, who are still at large, had allegedly claimed to be staff of EFCC Abuja Office, in order to defraud one Umar Bello.

“The complainant alleged that Bello had, on March 13, 2015 phoned him, assuring him that the convict could “kill” a petition purportedly written against him, if he could part with a sum of N10million.

“Consequently, Bello was said to have sent the phone number of Momoh who claimed to be a principal detective superintendent, PDS, with EFCC to the victim for further discussion on how the money could be paid to them.

“The complainant later alleged that after negotiation, the convict agreed to collect N300,000.00 (three hundred thousand naira) from him when he could not raise the initial N10million,” the EFCC explained.

The statement further noted that the complaint further said one ‘Laolu Adegbite’ who claimed to be the officer handling his purported case, sent an SMS to him to appear before the Commission on March 23, 2015.

According to him, owing to the persistent threat by the convict, he paid the sum of N50,000.00 (fifty thousand naira) into the convict’s Diamond Bank account number, 0044213102, which was sent to him by Momoh on March 25, 2015.

Worried by the persistent threat by the convict over the balance of N250, 000.00 (two hundred and fifty thousand naira), the victim petitioned EFCC, which led to convict’s arrest and subsequent prosecution.

Justice Iliya found Edward guilty of two counts and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on each of the count without option of fine.

The sentences are to run concurrently from the date of the convict’s arraignment.

Justice Iliya also ordered the convict to pay N50, 000.00 (fifty thousand naira) as restitution to the victim.

Credit:

http://leadership.ng/news/561918/n10m-scam-efcc-impostor-bags-14-years-jail-term

EFCC absence stalls trial of suspects in CBN N8 billion currency scam.

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Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on Wednesday adjourned hearing of a plea bargain in the alleged N8 billion CBN Ibadan branch currency scam case. The hearing was adjourned till December 6.

 

Mr. Ayo-Emmanuel adjourned hearing in the case due to the absence of the prosecution, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in court, without notice.

 

The EFCC had listed Tope Akintade as the fourth defendant in the alleged N8 billion CBN Ibadan branch currency scam suit in June 2016.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Mr. Akintade, the fourth defendant, was reported to be suffering from High Blood Pressure, as well as prostate currency cancer.

 

Mr. Akintade had through his counsel, Femi Edema, entered into a plea bargain arrangement with the EFCC, but could not complete all the processes.

 

“We are frustrated and disappointed by the absence of the prosecution without any notice; all the processes involved in the arrangement have now been completed and certified by the EFCC Head Office in Abuja,” Mr. Edema said.

 

Kolawole Babalola, Adeola Olaniran, Philip Togun and Akintade, along with others, are standing trial for multiple charges bordering on conspiracy, forgery, stealing and recirculation of mutilated N8billion notes.

23bn Diezani bribe: EFCC to prosecute 100 electoral officials

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Indications emerged Tuesday night that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is set to charge over 100 electoral officials for allegedly receiving part of the $115m (N23bn) disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the countdown to the 2015 presidential election.

It was gathered that the acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, would meet tomorrow (Thursday) in Abuja to clean the charges that would be filed against the suspects.

While some of the officials would only face dismissal for breach of INEC rules, a majority of them would be arraigned by the EFCC.

Punch reports that some of the officials, who have returned a total sum of N400m, may not face prosecution.

At the meeting, Magu is expected to present a report on the investigation while the INEC boss would make recommendations.

A source at the EFCC said, “You will recall that the EFCC started investigating the INEC officials in the South-South in March and we arrested several officials, including the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State during the 2015 election, Gesila Khan.

“However, further investigations revealed that the bribery took place across Nigeria and so, all the EFCC zonal offices started conducting investigations simultaneously.

“We have sent reports to the chairman and he is expected to meet with the INEC chairman on Thursday. Some of the electoral officials were not INEC employees but ad hoc staff. Some of the officials collected money through their bank accounts while some collected cash.”

The EFCC had, in April, arrested the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the 2015 elections in Rivers State, Mrs. Gesila Khan, and other officials of INEC that conducted elections in Delta an Akwa Ibom states.

Khan had been quizzed by the Department of State Services in July last year but was never charged.

The residences of all the suspects were subsequently searched and incriminating documents were recovered by the commission.

According to impeccable sources at the EFCC, Khan, who is now the REC in Cross River State, allegedly received N185.8m ahead of the March 28 and April 11, 2015 elections.

The source also revealed that the EFCC had arrested one Fidelia Omoile who was the INEC electoral officer in Isoko-South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The detective gave the names of some other detained officers as: Godwin Maiyaki, Gambo Balanga, Bukar Benisheik, Dukku, Jibril Muhammed, Billiri, Dunguma Dogona, Funakaye, Mohammed Wanka, Kaltungo, Ishaku Yusuf, Kwami, Suleiman Isawa, Babagana Malami, Shongom, and Nuhu Samuel.

Court Strikes Out Afili-Ajumogobia’s Suit Against EFCC

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Justice Muslim Hassan of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday struck out a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, seeking immediate release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

 

Justice Hassan said the suit had become academic in view of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia’s arraignment before a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on Monday and the bail granted her on self recognition by Justice Hakeem Oshodi.

 

“The issue of the applicant’s bail from the EFCC custody has been overtaken by the event of her arraignment at the Lagos High Court and her subsequent release on bail by the court,” Justice Hassan held.

 

The judge also declined Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia’s prayer to declare that the remand order obtained by the EFCC from a magistrate court to detain her from November 10 till November 28, 2016 was unlawful, illegal and a violation of her fundamental human rights.

 

Justice Hassan held that the remand order issued by the magistrate was in line with the provision of Section 264(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2011.

 

The judge, however, condemned the decision of the EFCC to revoke the administrative bail earlier granted Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia

BREAKING: Ex-Minister, Bala Mohammed, gets bail

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An Abuja High Court on Tuesday granted bail to a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed.

 

Mr. Mohammed was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on October 24, on allegations of fraud.

 

He remained in the custody of the commission despite an earlier administrative bail granted him by the EFCC.

 

Justice Hussein Yusuf had on November 25 adjourned hearing of an application for Mr. Mohammed’s bail.

 

The former minister’s lawyer, Chris Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, told PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday that the court granted the application.

 

“The bail was granted this afternoon, with the same conditions in the administrative bail. He is expected to produce two sureties; who must be of the directorate cadre in the Nigerian Civil Service.

 

“They are also expected to have landed properties in Abuja,” said Mr. Uche.

 

Efforts to reach the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, to confirm the bail and whether the commission would release Mr. Mohammed once the conditions are met, were unsuccessful. His telephone line was switched off.

 

Mr. Mohammed was Abuja minister in the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

 

Sources in the EFCC had told PREMIUM TIMES that the commission is investigation several petitions accusing the former minister of hundreds of billions of naira land fraud while in office.

Be professional in your actions, Judge blasts EFCC.

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A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday cautioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on the manner in which it carried out its probe of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.

Delivering judgement in a N50 million fundamental rights suit filed by Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia against the EFCC, the trial judge, Muslim Hassan, urged the EFCC to be professional in the discharge of its duties.

It will be recalled that Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit, is seeking among other things, an order of the court declaring her continued detention by the EFCC as illegal.

While noting that the EFCC was vested with powers to arrest and detain any citizen suspected to have committed an offence, Mr. Hassan said that such powers must be exercised with caution.

The judge questioned the rationale behind the revocation of the administrative bail granted to Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia by the EFCC on October 22, when she did not pose a flight risk.

He said: “The respondent should have exercised restraints in revoking the bail earlier granted the applicant; there was no evidence that the applicant is a flight risk.

“The respondent is hereby counselled to be professional and to always exercise caution and restraints in the exercise of its powers.”

Mr. Hassan, however, disagreed with Ofili-Ajumogobia that the remand order obtained by the EFCC from a magistrates’ court on November 10 was unlawful, illegal and a violation of her fundamental human rights.

According to Mr. Hassan, the remand order was issued by the Magistrates’ Court pursuant to Section 264(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The judge also refused to make any order as to the applicant’s request for bail from the EFCC’s custody, following her arraignment on November 28 before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court.

“The issue of the applicant’s bail from EFCC’s custody has already been overtaken by the event of her arraignment at the Lagos High Court and her subsequent release on bail by the court.

“The applicant’s lawyer is also at liberty to challenge the continued detention of the applicant by the respondent after the expiration of the magistrate court’s remand order.

“However, in the light of the recent event in this matter, this suit is hereby struck out,’’ the judge held.

The EFCC had on November 28 arraigned Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Godwin Obla, on a 30-count corruption charges before an Ikeja High Court.

They had, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and had since been granted bail on self recognition by the court.

Judge orders fellow judge Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, senior lawyer into the dock.

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A judge at the Ikeja Division of the Lagos State High Court has ordered a federal judge, Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, into the dock for arraignment on money laundering, the Punch newspaper is reporting.

 

The arraignment of Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia and a senior lawyer, Godwin Obla, is currently underway before Justice T. Oshodi.

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had filed a 30-count charge of corruption and money laundering against both defendants.

 

The EFCC accused the judge of accepting almost $800,000 (N368 million) between 2012 and 2015 which she allegedly used to buy a house in London.

 

Before her arraignment on Monday, Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia had repeatedly shunned invitations to report to the anti-graft commission, before finally appearing before the agency on October 20.

 

Details later….

Nigerian clubs share 240 million Naira loot recovered by anti-graft EFCC.

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Top Nigerian clubs including Nembe City have been paid their share of 240 million Naira recovered by anti-graft agency EFCC from a television broadcast agent.

 

The cash was paid into the Club Owners Association account.

 

EFCC are set to recover another 100 million Naira from the TV broadcast agent as well as a former sponsor of the league.

The clubs to benefit from this largesse will be those who featured in the now defunct Nigeria Premier League (NPL).

 

It was also understood that some principal executives during the NPL era were also paid off from this recovered money.

 

Television rights sales during the NPL era were shrouded in controversies amid allegations of brazen fraud.

 

It was alleged that the league got less than 10% of the broadcast cash over a period of six years.

EFCC Detains Former Skye Bank Chairman Tunde Ayeni Over N1bn Bribe To Ex-FCT Minister

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Agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested and detained Tunde Ayeni, a former chairman of Skye Bank, over allegations that he bribed a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed, to acquire 54 plots of land in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.

Two EFCC sources told SaharaReporters that Mr. Ayeni was arrested yesterday and has remained in detention because he was initially uncooperative.

One of our sources added that Mr. Ayeni is also being investigated for playing roles in several other deals involving former First Lady Patience Jonathan and a former head of state, Abubakar Abdulsalam, who co-owns a telecommunications company with the former banking executive.

Our sources disclosed that Mr. Ayeni was still undergoing interrogation and may remain in detention as investigators work hard to unearth his many deals.

Corruption, Not a Threat to National Security – EFCC Boss

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday punctured the argument of the Department of State Services that corruption was a threat to national security, the reason the latter gave to justify the raids it carried out on the homes of some judges across the country last month.

The stance of the anti-graft agency is a manifestation of the rivalry among security agencies, particularly between the DSS and the current leadership of the EFCC.

The two agencies had appeared before an ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives in Abuja to testify in respect of the invasion of the homes of some judges and their subsequent arrest by the DSS over alleged corrupt acts.

The committee, which is chaired by a former House Deputy Minority Whip, Mr. Garba Dhatti, is investigating all cases of invasion of property and arrest of persons by the DSS “outside its purview” from May 2015 to date.

The EFCC categorically told the committee that the alleged offences of the judges were financial crimes and did not constitute a threat to national security.

The commission’s acting Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, had sent an Assistant Director (Prosecution), Mr. Ojogbane Jonson, to represent him at the sitting of the committee.

According to him, the EFCC Act, clearly covers the alleged offences of the judges, adding that it was a duty the DSS should have left for the former to execute.

He stated that the EFCC was not involved in the raids on the judges’ homes, though he admitted that corruption was an economic crime.

Magu noted, “It is a crime (corruption) motivated by greed, but it is within the purview of the EFCC.

“Bribery and corruption are for personal gain, and what it has affected in my view is not security, but development.

“It is not about the internal security, which the DSS runs, what it does is to rob us of our commonwealth…

“I am not aware of any issue they (DSS) have been involved in that has elicited as much criticism as this one. It is not much because people are against them fighting corruption but the methodology.”

He added that the best approach would have been to invite the judges for a chat during the day, following which they would be arraigned before a competent court of jurisdiction.

Magu explained further, “Most of these people (fraudsters) are not violent on their own, and when we put them before a compromised judge, and they are set free, they go back to do the same things, like duping people. That has nothing to do with internal security.”

In his testimony, the Chairman of the ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Nta, supported the DSS, saying that the National Security Agencies Act conferred powers on the agency to raid any property in the country.

He explained that the two agencies could perform their duties and one did not function for another, except in cases involving “inter-agency cooperation.”

Nta also said the ICPC had similar powers, just like the Nigeria Police to gain entry into any facility in the course of investigation.

He said, “The DSS, like the ICPC, have been conferred with the powers of the police.

“Section 6 of the ICPC Act, it is there. Just like the police, as they have it in the Police Act, these powers are there.”

Meanwhile, the committee on Thursday threatened to issue a warrant for the arrest of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), for shunning its invitations.

At the opening of the hearing earlier  on Wednesday, Malami was absent and he sent no representations.

Members did not take kindly to the absence of the minister and his “failure” to forward any memoranda to the committee.

He was summoned to appear on Thursday (yesterday), but he failed to turn up again.

Dhatti, while complaining about the attitude of the AGF at the resumed sitting of the committee, stated that he was the only official among the key persons invited, who had ignored the committee.

After a brief consultation with other members of the committee, it was resolved that Malami should appear unfailingly on Tuesday, next week, or he would risk being arrested.

Dhatti stated, “All the persons we invited have submitted their memoranda and they also appeared before the committees.

“The affected judges submitted their memoranda and some of them even came here. The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, the Code of Conduct Bureau, they came.

“The DSS Director-General (Lawal Daura) is here with us and the EFCC has made  an appearance too.

“But, the committee is disturbed by the failure of the AGF to appear or to deem it fit to reply us by sending a memorandum to the committee.

“As the chief law officer of the country, he should know the consequences of his actions. We wrote him and we also summoned him, but he has ignored the committee.

“Under Section 89(1) (d) of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, this committee will issue a warrant for his arrest if he fails to appear here on Tuesday, next week.”

But, when it was time to grill Daura, the committee opted for a closed-door meeting.

EFCC Fails to Stop Bail for Dasuki’s Aide, Security Consultants

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed at the federal high court in Abuja in its bid to stop the court from granting bails to an aide of the former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Mohammad Sambo Dasuki and security consultants who were accused of corruption by the federal government.

The EFCC lawyer Mr. Ofem Uket had made frantic moves to stop Justice Gabriel Kolawole from admitting the defendants on bails on the ground that they would escape justice by refusing to appear for trial in the charges against them.

The main defendants are Colonel Nicholas Ashinze, a former Aide in the Office of National Security Adviser; an Austrian and Security Consultant Mr. Wolfgang Reinl; a retired military intelligent officer Sagir Mohammed and a legal practitioner Mr. Edidiong Idiong. Uket told the court that although the defendants were granted administrative bail, but that the bail however terminated at the point the anti-graft agency filed charges against them.

“We are aware that the defendants are enjoying administrative bail. Their counsels understand that any administrative bail granted ends as soon as the matter is brought to court and bail applications are filed”.

“Such bail cannot be extended since the charges have now been preferred to the defendants. We therefore urge the court to deny the bail application”, he submitted.

He then urged Justice Kolawole not to admit them on bail on the ground that they may escape. But, Ashinze’s counsel, Ernest Nwoye told the court that he had a pending application for the bail of his client.

He urged the court to grant the defendant bail on self recognizance having earlier been admitted to bail by an FCT High Court. Afam Osigwe, counsel representing the second and fifth defendants, also prayed the court to admit Reinl to bail.

He stated that he has been enjoying administrative bail from the EFCC since February. He said that his travel documents are in the possession of the Commission and that the defendant had lived in Nigeria for over 23 years and is married to a Nigerian. In his argument, counsel to the third defendant, Mr. Paul Erokoro, SAN, said his client, Idiong, being a legal practitioner knows what it means to jump bail.

He stated that, aside the fact that he had earlier been granted bail by an FCT High Court, he had always made himself available to the EFCC.

In a similar vein, counsel representing the fourth defendant, Nureni Jimoh, while praying the court to grant his client bail presented 6 exhibits marked exhibits A-F respectively, to the effect that the accused had a health challenge which he had been managing for close to forty years.

However in his ruling, Justice Kolawole said that the claim by the EFCC lawyer that the defendants will escape justice was speculative because there was no evidence to that effect.

The Judge said that it is established beyond reasonable doubt that the EFCC granted the defendants administrative bail and that there was no evidence that any of them jumped bail or tampered with witnesses or evidence.

In the circumstances, Justice Kolawole adopted the EFCC administrative bail and admitted all the defendants bail with the conditions.

Justice Kolawole held that the charges are all bailable adding that, “since each of the defendants has been on one administrative bail or the other, my sixth judicial sense informs me that I adopt the terms and conditions of the bail granted to the defendants by the EFCC and my learned brothers in the FCT High Courts.

The judge added that the case would be granted accelerated hearing and urged the prosecution to pick five days in the new year for trial.

Consequently, the case was adjourned to January 23, February 1 and14; and March 7 and 21, 2017.

The EFCC, had arraigned the quartet of Colonel Nicholas Ashinze, a Former Special Assistant to the former National Security Adviser, an Austrian, Wolfgang Reinl; Edidiong Idiong and Sagir D. Mohammed before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a 13-count charge of corruption and money laundering to the tune of N1.5b. The defendants however denied the charges preferred against them.

Ashinze and other defendants were arraigned alongside five companies accused of allegedly diverting huge sums from the office of the former NSA.

The companies are: Geonel Integrated Services Limited, Unity Continental Nigeria Limited, Helpline Organization, Vibrant Resource Limited and Sologic Integrated Services Limited.

 

Dasuki’s aide, eight others arraigned over fresh N36.8bn fraud

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, arraigned Col. Nicholas Ashinze, a former Special Assistant to the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), and three others on a 13-count charge of corruption and money laundering to the tune of N36.8bn.

Dasuki is already facing trial before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, together with other set of persons for an alleged diversion of huge sums of money belonging to the Office of the NSA.

But Ashinze was on Wednesday arraigned alongside an Austrian, Wolfgang Reinl, Edidiong Idiong, Sagir Mohammed and five companies over allegations bordering on diversion of huge sums from the office of the former NSA, before a Federal High Court in Abuja. The companies are: Geonel Integrated Services Limited, Unity Continental Nigeria Limited, Helpline Organization, Vibrant Resource Limited and Sologic Integrated Services Limited.

Ashinze and his co-accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them when they appeared before Justice Gabriel Kolawole on Wednesday.

Count three of the charge reads:

“That you, Col. Nicholas Ashinze, being a serving officer of the Nigerian Army and a former Special Assistant (SA) to the immediate past National security Adviser, Wolfgang Reinl, being an Austrian national and managing director of Geonel Integrated Services Limited and Geonel Integrated Services Limited on or about 22nd April, 2014 at Abuja, in the Judicial Division of the Federal High Court did transfer the sum of Five Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N550,000,000.00) to Edidiong Idiong, being a lawyer practicing in the name of Law Partners & Associates, knowing that the said sum forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit : ‘corruption’ and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) and (4) of the same Money Laundering (Prohibition), Act 2011 (as amended).”

After the arraignment on Wednesday, EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Mr. I. O. Uket, said his witnesses were in court and he was ready for trial to commence immediately.

But Ashinze’s counsel, Ernest Nwoye, informed the court of his client’s pending bail application.

While moving the application, Nwoye urged the court to grant his client bail on personal recognition having earlier been released on bail by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

The counsel representing the second and fifth defendants, Afam Osigwe, also urged the court to grant his clients bail.

The third defence counsel, Paul Erokoro SAN, also said his client, Idiong, being a legal practitioner would not jump bail.

In the same vein, the counsel representing the fourth defendant, N. Jimoh, said his client had a health challenge which he had been managing for close to 40 years.

Responding, Uket argued that the defendants had lost their administrative bail the moment their matter was charged to court and their counsel filed applications for their bail.

In his ruling on the applications, Justice Kolawole granted bail to the accused persons, saying the charges instituted against them were all bailable.

He added, “Since each of the defendants has been on one administrative bail or the other, my sixth judicial sense informs me that I adopt the terms and conditions of the bail granted to the defendants by the EFCC and my learned brothers in the FCT High Courts.”

The judge added that the case would be given accelerated hearing, and adjourned till January 23, February 1 and 14; and March 7 and 21, 2017 for trial.

DSS raids: I didn’t move $2m from my house – Judge tells Reps

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Justice Abdullahi Liman of the Federal High Court Port-Harcourt Division has debunked claims that he moved $2 million from his official residence during a sting operation by officers of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Liman said this at a public hearing conducted by the Hon. Garba Datti-led House of Representatives Adhoc Committee investigating cases of invasion of property and arrest of persons for reasons outside the general duties of the DSS, yesterday.

Liman said he was not the target of the raid.

Between October 7 and 8, DSS raided the homes of some senior judges, in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Gombe, Kano, Enugu and Sokoto states.

Justice Liman said his reputation degenerated by false reports emanating from the raid. This was even as he blamed a section of online media for reporting that he was the unnamed judge which the DSS said in its statement quickly moved money out of his home during its operation.

Liman also told the committee that it was Justice Uche Agomoh’s home that was the target of the Saturday, October 8 raid, which he said lasted from 1:00am to 4:00am.

“I must state categorically that the DSS did not come to my house, which is No. 33 but it was Justice Agomoh’s house they targeted. It was shocking and frightening when, on Saturday afternoon, the DSS released an official statement claiming to have attempted to search the house of an unnamed judge, who, when approached, resisted and mobilised thugs and with the assistance of Governor Nyesom Wike and the tacit support of a sister security organisation, removed $2 million which was stashed in his house to an unknown place…”

Another judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja who was arrested during the raid in Abuja, Nnamdi Dimgba who appeared at the hearing, however, said it would be prejudicial to speak on the matter.

Meanwhile, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who declared the hearing open stressed that the House was investigating the propriety, or otherwise, of operations conducted by the DSS, at the homes of judges and other alleged DSS invasion of Akwa Ibom State governor’s lodge and Ekiti State House of Assembly.

Dogara who was represented by the Minority Whip, Yakubu Barde, said the peobe will be useful should the National Assembly find reasons to amend the National Securities Agencies Act.

“It is critical that any investigation of this nature must have a legislative purpose as required by section 88 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. It is in this regard that I enjoin this committee to make relevant findings of fact that will enable the National Assembly initiate the necessary amendments to the National Security Agencies Act and even the Constitution, where necessary”.

But, a mild drama played out when chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Sam Saba, reversed his position that the DSS has the power to arrest judges over allegations of corruption as corrupt acts are a threat to national security.

Earlier, Saba cited section 2 sub section 3 of the National Security Agencies (NSA) Act Cap N74 which states that the DSS has powers of prevention, detention within Nigeria against the internal security of the country.

He further cited Section 4 and the provisions of subsection (1) (2) and (3) of the NSA Act, saying it shall have effect not withstanding the provision of any other law to the contrary or any other natter therein mentioned.

He also told the committee that the DSS didn’t need to give the National Judicial Council (NJC) prior notice before arresting the judges. He equally stated that the CCB has powers to investigate criminal allegations against judges, especially with regards to under-declaring or false declaration of assets.

But Saba chose to withdraw his statement when asked by committee members, Kingsley Chinda and Edward Pwajok to state categorically, if false declaration of assets by public officers threatened internal security of the country.

Explaining his role during the failed arrest of Justice Agomoh, Governor Wike blasted the DSS and described the episode as a “national tragedy,” adding that the DSS failed to observe the rule of law in conducting the Port-Harcourt raid.

According to the governor, the DSS operatives, one of who assaulted him, didn’t know where exactly they were headed to even as they conducted themselves in an unprofessional manner. The governor was represented by his Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Aguma.

EFCC Arraigns Dasuki’s Aide, Col. Ashinze, Others For N36.8bn Fraud

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned the quartet of Colonel Nicholas Ashinze, a former special assistant to the embattled former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki; an Austrian, Wolfgang Reinl; Edidiong Idiong and Sagir D. Mohammed before Justice  Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a 13–count charge of corruption and money laundering to the tune of N36.8billion.
Spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren said Ashinze and his co-accused were arraigned alongside five companies accused of allegedly diverting huge sums from the office of the former NSA.
The companies are: Geonel Integrated Services Limited, Unity Continental Nigeria Limited, Helpline Organization, Vibrant Resource Limited and Sologic Integrated Services Limited.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them.
Ruling on the applications, Justice Kolawole held that the charges are all bailable adding that, “since each of the defendants has been on one administrative bail or the other, my sixth judicial sense informs me that I adopt the terms and conditions of the bail granted to the defendants by the EFCC and my learned brothers in the FCT High Courts.
The judge added that the case would be granted accelerated hearing and urged the prosecution to pick five days in the new year for trial.
Consequently, the case was adjourned to January 23, February 1 and14; and March 7 and 21, 2017.

EFCC Arrests Federal University VC

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Olusola Oyewole.
Credit : NAN

EFCC To Dock Ex-Works Minister, Ogunlewe For Alleged Fraud

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Three principal officers of the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, including the Pro-Chancellor, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, will on Friday appear in court on fraud charges.

The third person to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a Federal High Court, Ibadan, is the institution’s Bursar, Mr Moses Ilesanmi.

Ogunlewe, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is a former Minister of Works.

A top official of the commission confirmed the development to the New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

The source said that the trio would be docked on an 18-count charge bordering on stealing, abuse of office and obtaining money by false pretence.

According to him, the three men have been subject of investigation in an alleged case of abuse of office and misappropriation of funds.

Sources had earlier told NAN that the suspects were arrested on Wednesday morning following a petition written against them by the institution’s chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities in August.

Credit:

http://guardian.ng/news/efcc-to-dock-ex-works-minister-ogunlewe-for-alleged-fraud/

N1.5bn: EFCC Arrests Chairman, Finance Director Edo SUBEB

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested one the Executive Chairman and Director of Finance of Edo State Universal basic Education Board (SUBEB).

Daily Trust gathered on Wednesday that Stephen Aloa and Adams Osabuohien the Executive chairman and director of finance respectively were arrested by the Ibadan Zonal Office of the Commission.

According to EFCC sources they were arrested in connection with an alleged case of abuse of office, diversion and misappropriation of funds to the tune of one billion and five hundred million naira (N1.5bn)

It added that Edo SUBEB officials still being interrogated by the operatives of the Commission were arrested on Tuesday 22nd of November, 2016.

Alao and his accomplices allegedly inflated contracts, approved bogus weekly Duty Tour Allowances (DTA) for nonexistent conferences, used fictitious companies to defraud the board and sold Government properties without remitting same to Government account.

 The source said others fingered in the alleged fraud are still being investigated to ascertain their level of culpabilities.

Credit: dailytrust

EFCC Partners Aisha Buhari on Corruption Fight

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is collaborating with the office of the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, to engage Nigerian women in a nation – wide sustainable fight against corruption.

According to EFCC, the programme, which is tagged ‘Nigerian Women Against Corruption’, WAC, was initiated based on the significant role of women in the family and in the society at large.

The programme is scheduled to be flagged off by the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja at the International Conference Centre, on December 7, 2016. WAC is aimed at getting the women to buy into the corruption fight and to raise the consciousness of the consequences of corruption in the minds of their household in particular and also to create awareness of the evil of corruption in the larger society.

Acting Chairman, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, said the women engagement will help develop a comprehensive women-based programme of engagement that will enhance the fight against corruption. He said women would thereafter help to act as watch dogs, foot soldiers and whistle blowers against corruption and to drive the regime of probity and accountability. While speaking on the significance and why women needed to buy into the corruption fight Magu said: “a woman who has the ability to build a home can as well tame the corruption monster”.

While quoting the words of Diana Marriechild, he said “a woman is a full circle; within her is the power to create, nurture and transform”. Significantly, the WAC programme is coming up on December 7, 48 hours before the internationally celebrated anti-corruption day which is Friday, December 9, 2016. The crusade will later be taken to the grass-root through the state and the local governments across the country.

N1.64 billion fraud: EFCC closes case against ex-Gov. Nyame

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday closed its case against former Taraba governor, Jolly Nyame, who is standing trial before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the FCT High Court on charges of money laundering to the tune of N1.6 billion.

Mr. Nyame is facing trial on a 41-count charge of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of state funds to the tune of N1.64 billion between 1999 and 2007 during his tenure as governor.

At the resumed hearing today, counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, told the court that the prosecution had decided to close the case against the former governor.

In response, Mr. Nyame’s counsel, Omosanya Popoola, said that he would file a “no-case submission”.

“In view of the closure of the prosecution case, we shall be making a ‘no-case submission’ pursuant to Section 303 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act,’’ Mr. Popoola said.

He said he would serve the prosecution with the written address next week.

Justice Banjoko adjourned to December 5 for adoption of written addresses on the “no-case submission”.

The EFCC had during the trial which started in 2010, called 14 witnesses.

EFCC Re-arraigns Jide Omokore, 5 Others.

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Chairman of Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, Jide Omokore, was on November 21, 2016 re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Nnamdi Dimbga of a Federal High Court in Abuja. He was re-arraigned along with Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere, David Mbanefo, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited.

They were re-arraigned on a nine-count amended charge, of criminal diversion of about $1.6 billion alleged to be proceeds of petroleum products belonging to the federal government.

Count one reads: “That you Olajide Jones Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Ltd, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Ltd and Kolawole Akanni Aluko (now at large) between May and October 2013 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, induced the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Federal Government of Nigeria to deliver to you 5,652,227 barrels of crude oil (Brass blend) amounting to the sum of US$616,013,615.27 (Six Hundred and Sixteen Million, Thirteen Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifteen US Dollars, Twenty Seven Cents) through the medium of contract, which delivery was induced by the false pretence to wit: that you had technical competence, professional skills and funds (both local and foreign) necessary to support NPDC in petroleum operation for the contract area and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act Cap. A6, 2010, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and punishment under section 1(3) of the same Act.”

Count eight reads: “That you Victor Biggs (while being the Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC), Abiye Membere (while being the Group Executive, Exploration & Production of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC), David Mbanefo (while being Manager, Planning & Commercial of the Nigerian Petroleum Corporation, NNPC) and Diezani Alison-Madueke (at large) (while being the Minister of Petroleum Resources) between 2013 and 2014 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did abet the commission of money laundering by Olajide Jones Omokore, Atlanatic Energy Brass Development Ltd, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Ltd and Kolawole Akanni Aluko, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

They pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to them.

In view of their plea, prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial, and to allow the defendants to enjoy the bail earlier granted them by Justice Binta Nyako.

Counsel to the defendants did not object to the request of Jacobs, urging the court to accede to his request.

Justice Dimgba, thereafter fixed December 8, 2016 for hearing in the case, adding that: “I hereby adopt the bail terms as mine”.

It would be recalled that Omokore and his co-defendants were first arraigned before Justice Nyako, on July 4, 2016, but the case file was afterwards transferred to Justice Dimgba by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

EFCC chair: Lawyer gives Senate ultimatum over Magu’s confirmation.

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A constitutional lawyer, Barr. Wahab Shittu, has called on the Senate, as a matter of urgency’ to confirm the appointment of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, within the next 48 hours.

 

It would be recalled that the Presidency has written to the Senate, seeking the screening and confirmation of Magu as chairman of the EFCC.

 

President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Magu as the acting chairman EFCC after the removal of Ibrahim Lamorde on November 9, 2015.

 

Speaking, Shittu said it was a shame that someone of the pedigree of Magu who has so far performed credibly and exceptionally well in pushing the frontier of anti-corruption war in the country be made to undergo this frustration.

Shittu stated that failure to confirm the EFCC helmsman by the Senate simply means that the senators are calling for the wrath of Nigerians because the nation’s anti-corruption fight is not a fight of the executive, legislature or judiciary but a fight to reposition Nigeria amongst comity of nations by Nigerians.

 

He said, “The Senate has no choice, than to confirm him, because failure to do so simply means that they should be ready for the wrath of Nigerians. Anti corruption fight is not a fight of the executive, legislature or judiciary it is a fight of the Nigerian people so when you do anything to confront the fight then you are indirectly fighting Nigeria and the Nigeria people will fight back to ensure that there interest is not endangered.”

EFCC Files Corruption Charges Against Justice Ajumogobia And Senior Lawyer Obla

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed 30 charges against a Federal High Court judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia; and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Obla, The PUNCH has learnt.

The EFCC said about $793,800 passed through the judge’s domiciliary accounts between 2012 and 2015. The judge allegedly used the money to buy a house in London.

The two accounts, Access Bank (0002649223) and Diamond Bank (0032091183) have since been frozen by the EFCC.

The commission is expected to arraign the two suspects before a Lagos State High Court this week.

Five of the charges are centered on an alleged N5m bribe given to the judge by the senior advocate while the remaining 25 charges are on the huge amounts that passed through the accounts of Ofili-Ajumogobia and her alleged inability to explain her source of wealth.

The other charges filed against the judge border on forgery, lying, unlawful enrichment and other related offenses.

Ofili-Ajumogobia and Obla have been in the custody of the EFCC for about 10 days following revelations that the senior advocate paid N5m into her account in 2015 at a time she was presiding over one of his cases.

While Ofili-Ajumogobia claimed the money was a deposit for a N40m property she sold to Obla, the senior advocate said the money was a payment for building materials.

Obla also insisted that he did not know that the account belonged to the judge.

Some of the charges read in part, “That you, Hon. Justice Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, and Godwin Obla (SAN), on or about May 21, 2015, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired with each other to pervert the course of justice in charge number FHC/L/C/482C/10 with the sum of N5,000,000.

“That you, Godwin Obla (SAN), on or about May 21, 2015, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, intentionally gave the sum of N5,000,000 to Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court directly from your Obla and Company account (1015319084) domiciled in the United Bank for Africa Plc in order that the said judge acts in the exercise of her official duties.”

Investigations by the EFCC further revealed that about $793,800 passed through the judge’s accounts and she allegedly was not able to explain to detectives how she came about the sums.

Breakdown of figures

A breakdown of the figures by the EFCC showed that Ofili-Ajumogobia received a deposit of $130,000 through her Diamond Bank account on May 30, 2013. On June 2, 2014, she allegedly received $70,000 through the same account.

The anti-graft agency said the judge received $55,000 on March 27, 2014, and another $55,000 on October 14, 2014 while $20,000 was received through the same account on June 19, 2014.

The commission alleged in the charge sheet that Ofili-Ajumogobia also received $20,000 on October 13, 2014 while she got an additional $50,000 on December 20, 2014.

The judge allegedly received $50,000 on November 21, 2014 and $30,000 between June 17 and June 19, 2015 through the same Diamond Bank account as well as another $10,000 on July 6, 2015.

She allegedly received $20,000 on June 11, 2013; $30,000 on February 11, 2014 and $150,000 on March 29, 2014.

The EFCC accused the judge of receiving $68, 800 through her Access Bank account between August 11, 2011 and March 27, 2012.

She also allegedly received $35,000 through the same account between April 30 and September 3, 2012.

The charges were said to be contrary to Section 82 (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No 11, 2011.

Some of the charges read, “That you, Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, between the 11th day of August 2011 and 27th day of March 2012, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court, enriched yourself with a total sum of $68,000 through your account (0002649223) domiciled in Access Bank Plc, so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain in relation to your lawful income.

“That you, Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, between the 10th and 30th day of May 2013, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court, enriched yourself with a total sum of $130,000 through your account (0032091183) domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc, so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain in relation to you your lawful income.

“That you, Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, on or about the 20th day of December 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court, enriched yourself with a total sum of $50,000 through your account (0032091183) domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc, so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain in relation to you your lawful income.”

The judge allegedly received over N40m in mysterious deposits made by some companies.

Judge accused of lying

The EFCC also accused the judge of telling lies.

Specifically, Ofili-Ajumogobia had told detectives around 7.16pm on October 19, 2016 that she would not be able to honor an invitation because she was admitted to Golden Cross Hospital, Bourdillon, Ikoyi.

However, the judge was not there when detectives checked the hospital.

She was also accused of forging a deed of assignment between County City Bricks Development Company Limited and Niger & Colive Limited in 2010.

UN’s ex-prosecutor to lead Justice Ngwuta’s trial today

A former prosecutor at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Mr. Segun Jegede, has been engaged by the Federal Government to handle the trial of a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who is to be arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja today (Monday).

Jegede and another international lawyer, Mr. Charles Adeogun-Philips, have been engaged by the Federal Government to prosecute all the judges it lined up for trial.

The two lawyers with decades of international practice are separately leading two teams that have been briefed by the Federal Government through its National Prosecution Coordination Committee.

While Jegede is leading the prosecution of Justice Ngwuta, Adeogun-Philips has been briefed to lead the prosecution of some Supreme Court officials who had been charged with diversion of N2.2bn belonging to the apex court.

The two lawyers are both on the team of 80 special prosecutors of the Federal Government whose activities are being coordinated by the NPCC.

Jegede reportedly worked at the UNICTR for over a decade.

Jegede’s work at the UNICTR mainly revolved around the investigation and prosecution of some of the known masterminds of crimes committed during the Rwandan genocide.

According to online search engine, Wikipedia, the Rwandan genocide, which lasted about 100 days in 1994, was a mass slaughter of the members of the Tutsi ethnic group in Rwanda by the members of the Hutu majority government.

Jegede was also said to have had a stint at the Federal Ministry of Justice as a state counsel before going into legal practice and establishing his own law firm in 1988

Adeogun-Philips, who was born in England 50 years ago, is a former genocide and war crime prosecutor at the International Criminal Court.

Already, three cases have been filed with respect to the charges of corruption preferred against some judges and court officials, following the raid on the houses of some judges by the operatives of the Department of State Services between October 7 and 8, 2016.

The first case involved a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Ngwuta, who was charged with 14 counts of money laundering before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Another case involved a Federal High Court judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who was charged with receiving gratifications, along with his wife.

The other one involved the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Ahmed Saleh, who was charged along with two other officials of the apex court.

The three apex court’s officials were jointly charged with alleged diversion of N2.2bn belonging to the court and receiving  gratifications from contractors providing services to the court.

Also to be later charged is another Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Inyang Okoro.

Justice Ngwuta, who was charged with 14 counts of money laundering, has been scheduled to appear before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, for arraignment today.

It was alleged in the 14 counts of money laundering that Ngwuta transferred the total sum of N505m “denominated in naira and US dollars” to a building contractor, Nwamba Linus Chukwuebuka, between January and May 2016.

The N505m was alleged to be part of proceeds of Ngwuta’s “unlawful” activities.

He was also accused in the amended charges of retaining N35,358,000; $319,596 and £25,915 during the raid on his house by the operatives of the Department of State Services between October 7 and 8.

Apart from the money laundering charges, Ngwuta was accused of passport offences in counts eight to 14 of the amended charges.

He was accused of being in possession of two valid diplomatic passports and another two valid Nigerian passports, when his house was raided by DSS operatives on October 8, 2016.

EFCC Quizzes Two Contractors For Inflated Vehicles Cost

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Two contractors have been quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in connection with the purchase of two vehicles by the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross Rivers state. The two vehicles were purchased at an outrageously high price. A Coastal Bus was purchased for N49 million while one Toyota Hiace Ambulance was purchased for N62 million.

The two contractors, Emmanuel Etta Nkin, who is the promoter of Basemark Construction Company Ltd and Anthony Okocha, promoter of Messrs Anchor Industrial Nigeria Ltd were arrested by operatives of the Commission following a petition by the Bureau of Public Procurement that the purchase of the vehicles did not follow due process.

Though the contract for the purchase of the vehicles were advertised by the Teaching Hospital, and several contractors bided for the contract, investigation by the Commission reveals that Basemark Construction Company Limited and Anchor Industrial Nigeria Limited were the least qualified for the contract. For instance, Basemark Construction Company Limited had no evidence of Registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission submitted for the bid process.

Curiously, the two companies which submitted the highest bid of N62 million and N49 million got the contract ahead of other bidders with lesser amount.

Upon interrogation, Etta Nkin admitted that the Ambulance was purchased at the cost of N9 million and that he has been paid N59 million so far leaving a balance of N3 million. Also, Anthony Okocha admitted that he purchased the Coastal Bus for N15 million and that he has been paid N24 million so far. EFCC findings from the place of purchase of the vehicles shows that the Toyota Ambulance was purchased for N8.5 million while the Coastal Bus goes for N13 million.

Evidences at the disposal of the Commission shows that some high level management officers Teaching Hospital may have compromised their position and would be questioned by the Commission soon.

I never knew Fani-Kayode, others were in EFCC custody when I visited – Bishop Kukah

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The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, has said that his visit to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which saw him pray for recently released detainees – Reuben Abati, Femi Fani-Kayode, and Musilliu Obanikoro – was not planned.

Kukah had visited the custody of the EFCC, in Abuja, where he prayed for the trio.

Kukah explained that he was on a visit to the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, to invite him for an event when he decided to pray with some detainees not knowing the prominent Nigerians were there.

“I am not sure of what to say. I really did not imagine that I would be talking about this but since it is now public, let me briefly explain as best as I can,” he told Punch.

“Yes, I went to the EFCC to visit the acting chairman, to invite him for an event with the Kukah Centre. As I got up to leave, I told him I needed to do my spiritual duties and then requested to see the detainees.

“I had no idea where the location of the facility was, nor did I even know who was there. I was out of the country when I heard my friend, Reuben Abati, had been held but I did not know where. I just said I wanted to greet the detainees, whoever they might be.

“Mr. (Ibrahim) Magu then decided to accompany me and Abati was the first person I met as we entered the place. There were about seven or so other young men, none of whom I recognised but I greeted and shook hands with them.

“As I greeted them, Mr. Magu decided to show me their toilet facilities, assuring me that they were up to the standard.

“Abati, who was beside me, answered in the affirmative and I went on to see the showers, which looked quite neat. I was told that (Musiliu) Obanikoro and (Femi) Fani-Kayode were there too but that they were in the clinic. Mr. Magu took me there and we met both of them having a meal.

“They were glad and obviously surprised to see me. We chatted and then, I tried to encourage them, reminding them to trust in God’s will. After that, the four of us prayed together. I blessed them and left.

“As I bade goodbye to Mr. Magu, a young man stepped up to me to ask about my visit. I spoke to him but had no idea it would be news.

“Nonetheless, there is nothing that I regretted saying to him. I had no idea that it would become a media event till someone forwarded the news item to me later that evening.

“It was not meant to be a media event, and I was pleased with Mr. Magu’s courtesy towards me. Trust Nigerians. This has elicited all kinds of reactions, but I am glad even about the publicity that has followed my visit. My conscience is my companion, not the eyes of the public.

“I just call on my fellow Nigerians to know that we all share a common humanity and that there is a distinction between sin and the sinner, and that while people are still under investigation, we must ensure that their integrity is intact until the courts have proven their cases against them. It could be any of us tomorrow.”

EFCC hunts for Fayose’s sister over N200m Abuja mansion

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is looking for Mrs. Moji Ladeji, the sister of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, over a N200m house located at 44 Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, a highbrow area in the nation’s capital.

According to court documents, the building, which has since been sealed off by the EFCC, was allegedly bought by Fayose from proceeds of corrupt practices but the title documents of the house bear the name of Fayose’s sister, a move the commission claimed was to cover the governor’s track.

Detectives said that Ladeji, who is based in the United Kingdom, would need to explain her role in the alleged scam.

A source in the EFCC stated, “We have been able to establish that the house was bought from the proceeds of corrupt practices. The house was, however, bought in the name of Fayose’s sister. We need to question her to determine her level of involvement.

“We know that she is based in the UK but she comes to Nigeria quite often. We want her to come and tell us her side of the story.”

Fayose had sued the EFCC for freezing his bank account following an allegation that he received N1.219bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser through a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, as well as kickbacks from state contractors.

However, in a counter-affidavit, deposed to by Mr. Tosin Owobo on behalf of the EFCC, the agency said Fayose used the N1.219bn as well as alleged kickbacks received from the Ekiti State Government contractors to buy houses in Abuja and Lagos.

The governor allegedly received kickbacks from about four Ekiti State Government contractors – Samchese Nigeria Limited, Tender Branch Concept Nigeria Limited, Hoff Concept Limited and Calibre Consulting Limited.

However, instead of receiving cash, the governor allegedly instructed the companies to buy houses for him in Lagos and Abuja.

The houses located on Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, are said to be worth about N1.1bn.

According to the EFCC, the houses were bought in the name of J. J. Technical, a company owned by Fayose and his wife, Feyisetan.

According to the EFCC, the houses in Abuja were bought with different names.

While the N200m house, located at 44 Osun Crescent, Abuja, was allegedly bought in the name of Fayose’s sister, another property, located on 32 Yedseram Street, Maitama, worth N270m, was bought in the name of a company.

The affidavit reads in part, “The applicant (Fayose) also used the name of one Mrs. Moji Ladeji (the applicant’s sister) to acquire a property situated at 44 Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, from the proceeds of the alleged offences of receiving gratification and kickbacks.

“Apart from fraudulently retaining the sum of N1,219,490,000.00, being part of the N4,745,000,000.00, stolen from the treasury of the Federal Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser, the applicant (Fayose) has also received gratification in form of kickbacks from various contractors with the Ekiti State Government such as Samchese Nigeria Ltd., Tender Branch Concept Nig. Ltd., Hoff Concept Ltd. and Calibre Consulting Limited.”

EFCC Arrests Two SON Directors For Alleged N1.3bn Fraud

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two directors of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) over alleged N1.3billion in the agency.

More staff of the organization might be questioned in the next few days.

Also, a prosecution witness has opened up on how $752,000 (about N229million) was deposited in the VISA Gold account of a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Badeh.

The witness said the huge cash was lodged by Badeh’s aide-de-camp (ADC) and orderly.

But the arrest of two directors of the SON was a major breakthrough for the anti-graft agency.

A reliable source said: “The two directors have been arrested and questioned for their alleged role in a N1.3billion fraud scandal rocking the agency.

“One of the directors is currently in the custody of the anti-graft agency, while the other, who is an assistant director, was arrested a few weeks ago and released on administrative bail after making a statement before a team of detectives.

“The arrest of the directors was pursuant to the investigation into a petition received by the agency from a body known as Peculiar Systems Services dated February 24, 2016.

“The body alleged gross financial mismanagement and embezzlement of public funds to the tune of N200million in the SON.

“ But in the course of the investigation, EFCC operatives found that more than N1.3billion was siphoned from the coffers of the SON by the affected directors and their collaborators in bogus payments.

“What we are doing now is profiling the accounts of the affected staff to determine their levels of involvement. We are determined to bring all those directly involved n the fraud to book”.

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EFCC arrests two SON directors for alleged N1.3bn fraud

EFCC urges journalists to champion fight against graft.

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The Head of the South South Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ishaq Salihu, has called on Nigerian journalists and other media practitioners to collaborate with the EFCC in the fight against corruption and financial crimes.

According to Salihu, the fight against the social malaise of corruption can be won if journalists discharge their responsibilities professionally by holding the government accountable to the people.

Salihu made this remark while declaring open a training workshop for the reporting of financial crimes.

It was organized by the EFCC for journalists in the South South zone of the country.

It was held in Port Harcourt.

Osita Nwajah, the Director, Public Affairs, who represented the Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, at the event, said the workshop was organized as a way of interfacing with journalists and deepening the relationship between the Commission and the media.

Nwajah challenged participants to “become frontlines in the fight against corruption if we are to achieve the country of our dream”.

Musikilu Mojeed, the Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, an online newspaper, in his paper: “Journalism and the Fight Against Corruption, Lesson from Abroad,” challenged journalists to go beyond the ordinary in the discharge of their duties by producing reports that could transform the society.

Mojeed cited several instances across the world, including the widely publicized Panama Papers, where journalists through their stories got senior government officials to either resign or be prosecuted.

In Ghana for instance, he cited the heroic effort of a journalist who, through undercover investigation, exposed corrupt judges that were consequently sacked and prosecuted.

In his paper: “Law, Journalists and Flight Against Corruption,” Gbemiga Ogunleye, the Provost of the Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Lagos, lamented the nation’s loss to corruption.

Ogunleye posited that the Nigeria media was critical to building a better country and urged journalists to be factual in their reports.

He said the Nigeria Constitution envisaged the importance of the press and urged journalists to apply the law when necessary.

Osadolor Igiozee, in his paper: “Electronic Media and Investigative Reporting, New Trends and Opportunities,” posited that journalists would have to be daring and fearless if they are to be successful in investigative reporting.

Igiozee encouraged them to look beyond the immediate gains and apply modern tools and techniques.

EFCC to get 2% from recovered loots – Senate

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Following its role in the anti-graft war, the Senate said yesterday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, would be empowered to keep two percent of recovered loots as soon as the amendment of the Act which set it up was completed.

 

Speaking during a nationwide visit to offices of government agencies handling corruption-related cases, Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, who led other members of the committee to Enugu State, said: “There is a bill for an Act to amend the EFCC laws. We will pass the bill next week.

‘’We have made provisions for the EFCC to auction seized assets. We have also made provisions for special funding for the EFCC. Going forward, the EFCC will keep two per cent of whatever it recovers for its operational cost. We have big plans to ensure that things are working well for the EFCC.”

 

Utazi noted that the Senate was prepared to contribute its quota to the ongoing anti-corruption fight, which necessitated the committee’s nationwide visit to offices of government agencies handling corruption-related cases.

Nigerian man, wife docked for duping American company.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a man and his wife before a Lagos State High Court, Ikeja for obtaining $102,550 from an American company under the pretext of helping the company to win a federal government contract.

The man, Austine Ezeama, his wife, Juliet, and a company, Mabrubeni Nigeria Limited, were on
Wednesday arraigned before Justice O. H. Oshodi on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.

According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly obtained $30,570 from CIFERCOM LLC under the pretence that the money was for its registration as a company in Nigeria, preparatory to the award of a $8 million contract to the company by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Both accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecution counsel, V. O. Agboje, asked for a trial date and also requested the accused be remanded in prison.

But the defence counsel, D. C. Nkemdirum, made an application for their bail, which he said had been served the prosecution since October 10.

Justice Oshodi remanded the defendants in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter till November 21 for hearing of the bail application.

The American company had lodged a complaint with the EFCC after it was tricked into paying $102,550 as processing fees for the non-existent contract.

According to the commission, the suspects in January 2015 convinced CIFERCOM LLC to come to Nigeria for the $8million contract to be facilitated by ranking officials in the country.

Mr. Ezeama was said to have introduced his wife, Juliet Ezeama, as a Federal Government agent, who served as intermediary between them.

“After a series of communication through emails, several fees were required from the complainant to facilitate the business. Eventually the sum of $102,550 was paid to Mabrubeni Nigeria Limited owned by the Ezeamas”, the EFCC stated.

Sometime in May 2015, Mr. Ezeama was said to have further informed the complainant that the new President of Nigeria wanted the project extended to cover the whole country with a new cost of $120 Million, and that the victim was expected to pay additional $650,000.00 before June 10, 2015.

After waiting without receiving any contract, the complainant became apprehensive and approached the EFCC through his solicitors for investigation into the matter.

I didn’t join APC to escape EFCC trial – Orji Kalu

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A former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, said he did not join the All Progressives Congress because of his travails in the hands of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Kalu was responding to questions from reporters after he was received by the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee of the APC in Abuja on Wednesday.

When asked whether he was joining the party because of his travails at the hands of the EFCC, Kalu said, “My family members are here (APC) and I am coming to join them.”

He explained that his decision to join the party was largely due to pressures from his family, friends, political associates and other well wishers who placed a premium on his political value.

The former governor added, “All my friends are here. I am not saying my friends are not in the other party but it’s time to take stock.

“It is important to go along family lines in order to rebrand Nigeria. I am back to join where my family are.

“If I had joined earlier at the time they were forming government, it would look like I am trying to join them to form government. This is the right time for me to join because this is the middle time between now and the next season to do politics. I am joining now to be able to play raw politics.”

He maintained that his decision would help convince his kinsmen especially in the South-East that “the APC is an all inclusive party which has the growth and development of Nigeria as the reason for its existence.”

The entrepreneur, publisher and businessman also announced that since he registered in his ward on Sunday, over 4, 800 others had registered as members of the party.

He announced that there two sitting members of the House of Representatives from Abia would soon make public their decision to join the APC.

The politician dismissed insinuations that the APC would disintegrate before 2019. He expressed confidence that the party had come to stay.

Kalu, who described himself as a complete Nigerian, said he schooled in the North, learnt to do business in the South-West and “by virtue of my birth, I’m an Igbo man.”

“The South-East and other parts of the country will be delivered to the APC in 2019,” he vowed.

Kalu pledged to abide by the party’s rules and regulations as well as carry out any task entrusted to him by the party.

Earlier, in his remarks, Odigie-Oyegun had described the former governor as a leader whose entry into the APC was worth celebrating.

Continued detention stalls Fani-Kayode’s trial.

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The trial of a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode for money laundering before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos was stalled on Monday following his continued Defence in June prison.

Fani-Kayode, who was the former director of media and publicity of the campaign committee of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, is charged alongside a former minister of finance, Nenadi Usman, and Danjuma Yusuf by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 17-count bordering on money laundering.

At the resumed hearing on Monday, Fani-Kayode’s counsel, Wale Balogun, informed the court that his client was not in court due to his arrest at the last sitting on October 21 by operatives of EFCC.

He said EFCC had since then incarcerated him in Kuje prison.

“My lord, I recall that on October 21, I informed this court that the EFCC were planning an arrest of the second accused.

“And I remember that my lord advised that in view of his pending trial before the court, he should be invited here whenever the need arises.

“My lord, on the said day, after the court had risen, the second accused was arrested within the court’s premises.

“I requested for an arrest warrant from the leader who informed me that there was none to that effect but told me that the order was `from above’.

“The second accused was taken to the EFCC Lagos and kept till 5 p.m. when another order came from `above’ to move him to Abuja immediately.

“My lord, the second accused was kept in custody of the prosecution for 21 days without any word,’’ he told the court.

“He was finally arraigned on November 10 before your learned brother Justice John Tsoho in Abuja, on a five-count charge bordering on N26 million.

“He was subsequently remanded at the Kuje prisons and in view of this, we are helpless, as his bail conditions have not been perfected in spite of frantic efforts by family and friends.’’

In his response, the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that he was aware of the arraignment of the second accused but added that his arraignment before the Abuja division of the court had nothing to do with the instant case.

He argued that the subsequent arrest of the accused was with a view to serving him with the charge and not to disrespect the court.

Mr. Oyedepo urged the court to grant an adjournment so as to allow the accused appear and stand trial.

Justice Muslim Hassan then ruled that “I will refrain from making any comment in relation to the arrest of the second accused in the court’s premises in spite of being granted bail.

“This case is adjourned at the instance of the prosecution to December 12, while the earlier date of November 15 is hereby vacated,’’ he ruled.

Witnesses in EFCC’s case against ex-Gov. Daniel refuse to attend court session

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Hearing in the trial of a former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday suffered a set back as the prosecution again failed to present witnesses.

The EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), explained that the witnesses could not appear in court because they said they needed the approval of the State Government.

Jacobs said the situation was a clear departure from the initial agreement with the witnesses and the others who had appeared before then.

He therefore requested for adjournment to be able to present the witnesses.

The defence counsel, Titilola Akinlawon (SAN), who remarked that prosecution cannot be an open ended game, but must have an end, argued that since the trial had been on since October 2011, it was wrong for the prosecuting counsel to still be chasing around witnesses.

Akinlawo , therefore, sought for the closure of the case of the prosecution, having given enough time and adjournment.

Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje in his ruling said he was constrained in the interest of justice to grant adjournment to the EFCC to bring additional witnesses.

Mabekoje, however, warned that he would not grant any further adjournment.

He warned sternly against such occurrence.

He then adjourned the case to December 16 and 20, 2016.

Witnesses in EFCC’s Case Against ex-Gov. Gbenga Daniel Refuse to Attend Court Session

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Hearing in the trial of a former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday suffered a set back as the prosecution again failed to present witnesses.

The EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), explained that the witnesses could not appear in court because they said they needed the approval of the State Government.

Jacobs said the situation was a clear departure from the initial agreement with the witnesses and the others who had appeared before then.

He therefore requested for adjournment to be able to present the witnesses.

The defence counsel, Titilola Akinlawon (SAN), who remarked that prosecution cannot be an open ended game, but must have an end, argued that since the trial had been on since October 2011, it was wrong for the prosecuting counsel to still be chasing around witnesses.

Akinlawo , therefore, sought for the closure of the case of the prosecution, having given enough time and adjournment.

Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje in his ruling said he was constrained in the interest of justice to grant adjournment to the EFCC to bring additional witnesses.

Mabekoje, however, warned that he would not grant any further adjournment.

He warned sternly against such occurrence.

He then adjourned the case to December 16 and 20, 2016.

EFCC arraigns Kano physician for issuing N2.7m dud cheque

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, arraigned one Dr Abubakar Abdullahi before justice Nuhu Yahaya Galadanci of the Kano State High Court on a two count charge of criminal breach of trust and issuance of dud cheque.

 

The accused person, a chief Neurologist consultant of Abubakar Imam Neurology Centre in Kano, allegedly obtained loan facility from the complainant, Aso Savings and Loans in the sum of N2, 694,558.08 (two million, six hundred and ninety four thousand, five hundred and fifty eight naira, eight kobo) on the understanding that he would move his salary account to the bank until the settlement of the loan.

 

According to the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, “after securing the loan, the accused person violated the agreement and moved his salary account elsewhere.

 

“furthermore, in an effort to fulfill his obligations to Aso Savings, the accused person issued a UBA cheque to the complainant which was returned unpaid on presentation due to lack funds in the account.”

 

The accused person pleaded not guilty after listening to the charge.

What We Do With Recovered Looted Funds– EFCC

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says all looted funds recovered by it are paid into the consolidated revenue account of the Federal Government.

The commission made this known on its Twitter handle, @officialefcc in response to a question from one of its followers.

In a tweet to the commission through the handle @asantoo11a, the follower had asked; “When are we sharing our recovered looted money’’.

“Recovered funds are paid into the consolidated revenue account of the Federal Government,’’ it tweeted in reply.

Some Nigerians have raised questions about where crime proceeds recovered by the commission are kept.

The EFCC also said there was no hiding place for looters, including those who travel abroad to evade the arm of the law.

“Our network of partners includes the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and other international law enforcement agencies.

“Perpetrators cannot hide forever. Send a petition,” it said in response to an enquiry by one Biyi Soremekun.

Using the handle @adebiyie200, Soremekun asked what would happen in a situation where an individual travels out of the country after perpetrating fraud.

“What happens in a situation where someone defrauds you through issuance of dud cheques or falsification of land documents and leaves the country before you realise it”?

The commission advised victims and members of the general public to forward their petitions through its offices nearest to them, adding that they could do so anonymously.

Credit: NAN

Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia Fail To Show Properties She Claimed Her Mother Gave Her

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Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia took agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a wild goose chase as she traveled with them from Lagos to Benin and Asaba in search of properties she claimed her late mother bequeathed to her. However, the search was futile as the judge was unable to show agents the said properties she allegedly inherited from her mother.

 

An EFCC source told SaharaReporters that a bus carrying Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia and a team of anti-corruption agents first arrived in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, because the judge had claimed that some of the $900k she wired abroad from bank accounts in Nigeria was income from properties she ostensibly inherited. She had told EFCC agents that her brother, Donald Ofili, and a lawyer based in Asaba, the Delta State capital, were managing the said properties. However, agents who traveled to Benin City to verify the existence of the houses claimed by the embattled judge as the source of some of her income did not find a single property.

Our source said that the judge, who sat in the back of the bus, often covered herself with a wrapper and muttered into a hand-held device as they drove her to Benin City. According to the source, EFCC agents let the judge be, but occasionally asked her to let them talk to her brother, Mr. Donald Ofili. However, on their arrival in Benin, the judge’s brother reportedly spoke on the phone to EFCC agents, asserting that their mother owned homes in the city, but confessing that his sister had asked him to claim that the $120k he wired into her account came from rental fees.

 

The operatives said that, on discovering that her brother had blown open her game, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia changed tunes and claimed that a lawyer not known to her brother managed the properties. She also told stunned agents that she could not recollect the addresses of the properties. When agents reminded her that her brother also claimed not to know the addresses of the properties, the judge urged the agents to proceed to Asaba, claiming she would then have enough time to contact the mysterious Benin lawyer.

Upset by the judge’s evasive manner, EFCC agents demanded to speak with the lawyer in advance as they drove to Asaba. Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia reportedly rang the so-called lawyer and handed her phone over to an EFCC agent. The man then promised the EFCC agents that he would be waiting to receive them in Asaba, adding that he was visiting a community outside Asaba.

 

However, once the EFCC agents arrived in Asaba, the judge told them that the lawyer who reportedly managed her properties had traveled to Owerri. Furious, members of the EFCC team demanded to speak again with the lawyer, but his line had been switched off. They demanded that the judge take them to the properties, but she again said she did not know the address. The irate EFCC operatives spent the night in Asaba, but seized the judge’s phone to ensure she would not use it to plot against them. As they disembarked from the bus, the agents discovered that the judge had another phone hidden in her wrapper, which they also took away.

Our source said that, despite taking away the second phone, they discovered the judge continued to mutter under her wrapper during the journey back to Lagos. Once in Lagos, a female EFCC detective searched the judge and discovered that she had hidden up to five phones underneath her clothing. She had also concealed an iPad.

According to our EFCC source, an initial check of the phones showed that the embattled justice was using different phones to communicate with her suspected accomplices perhaps tutoring them to lie to investigators about the source of her inexplicable cash transactions. The source said the phones retrieved from the judge would also be sent to experts for forensic checks.

A senior EFCC source confirmed the drama with Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, adding that the agency was considering revoking the judge’s administrative bail, accusing her of making moves to undermine their investigative tasks.

EFCC Interrogates Godwin Obla, The Lawyer Who Paid N5M To Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia

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Agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have started questioning Godwin Obla, a senior lawyer and former prosecutor to the anti-corruption agency, in connection with irregular payments to some judges who are targets of an ongoing probe of corruption in the judicial sector.

EFCC sources told our correspondent that Mr. Obla arrived at the commission’s Lagos office this afternoon in response to a summons by the anti-graft agency.

EFCC agents are specifically interrogating Mr. Obla in relation to an allegation that he paid N5 million to a Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia. Our source at the commission said that the lawyer funneled the money to the judge through a company in which the embattled judge has an interest.

Earlier, the judge had told EFCC investigators who questioned her that the payment was part payment for a property she claimed to have sold to the lawyer in Abuja for the sum of N40 million. She reportedly stated that the real estate deal took place sometime in 2015.

However, one of our sources disclosed that Mr. Obla’s responses during today’s interrogation contradicted the judge’s claims. The source quoted the lawyer as telling investigators that the money he paid to the judge was meant for buying building materials, specifically iron rods, for a building he was putting up in Abuja. He reportedly denied that the money was for buying any property.

According to the source, Mr. Obla explained that, during one of his trips to Lagos, he ran into the judge who had been his contemporary at university. He stated that, in the course of conversations, the judge disclosed that she knew where he could get building materials in Lagos at good prices. He added that Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia then gave him the name and account number of a company to enable him to order the building materials. He told investigators that he paid the money and the goods were supplied.

When investigators asked him to provide the merchant’s name, a receipt for the transaction and evidence of delivery of the goods, Mr. Obla said he could not remember the name of the trader or his location. He also failed to produce any receipt or delivery note for the transaction.

However, EFCC agents said they had confirmed that the account into which the lawyer paid the sum of N5 million belonged to a company owned by the judge and her children. Investigators suspect that the registered company, which was not known to be engaged in the sale of building materials or any other viable business, was surreptitiously set up for the purpose of warehousing proceeds of graft. The same company has been identified in other questionable financial transactions traced to the judge.

One of our sources said EFCC interrogators were still grilling Mr. Obla, adding that it was unlikely that the lawyer would be released today.

EFCC arraigns three men over N6 million fraud.

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Justice Rabi T. Umar of the Bauchi State High Court will today, November 9, 2016, decide on the bail application of Nasiru Inuwa Illelah, Muhammad Adamu Gana and Adamu Yunus who were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for fraudulent conversation of the sum of N6,000,000 (Six Million Naira) only and issuance of a dud cheques.

 

Ordeal of the trio started on April 18, 2016, when a case of obtaining money by false pretence and issuance of dud cheques was reported to the Commission by one Alhaji Garba Maigana against the above accused who are the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer respectively of the Hospital Management Board of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Services Technical and Recreation Services Employees and its leadership.

 

The petitioner alleged that sometimes in January, 2016, the trio lured him by requesting for the supply of a truck of a 50kg Labane rice to the union in Bauchi State.

 

In his own part, the complainant reported that he delivered to them a trailer load of rice (600 bags) valued at N6, 000,000.00 under the false pretence that Local Government staff were to be the beneficiaries. He was also made to believe that payment would be effected through direct deduction and be affected in two monthly installments against January and February, 2016 salaries.

 

In soliciting his trust, he was issued with two post-dated Sterling Bank cheques numbers 13894740 of 5th February, 2016 and 13894740 of 5th March, 2016 which were separately lodged and returned dishonored for insufficiency of fund. All efforts to get them pay back the money yielded no fruits as they were eventually found out to have diverted the goods elsewhere for their personal benefit.

 
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The investigation carried out by the Commission, a prima facie case was made against the defendants, that investigation linked the defendants with the offences with which they were charged.

EFCC probes Ebonyi Gov. Umahi, places property under investigation.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sealed the property belonging to Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, in Abakaliki and other parts of the state.

The anti-graft sealed the Osborn La Palm Hotel, located at Mile 50, Abakaliki and Brass Filling stations along Ogoja and Afikpo roads within the state capital.

The hotel and filling stations belong to the governor. EFCC placed a sign, “EFCC under investigation” with the agency’s eagle’s logo on the affected property.

However, business activities were still going on in the premises when visited yesterday. The hotel security guards were seen at the gate when visited.

It was learnt that EFCC operatives from the Enugu zonal office came to Abakaliki, the state capital, to place the “EFCC under investigation” sign on the entrance gate to the Osborn La Palm.

Although there was no clear reason for the action, the development might not be unconnected with the alleged N400 million arms deal former President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly gave to Umahi during the 2015 presidential election. The funds were allegedly diverted by the governor.

But, a top official of the Ebonyi State government, who did not want to be mentioned, denied the sealing of the governor’s property. He said that the EFCC’s logo on the hotel and filling station has been there for about four weeks.

He said that the hotel hosted a wedding reception on Sunday and, as such, has not been under lock and key.

He said: “Yes, there is an EFCC sticker on the properties. It is just an underinvestigation sticker. It is not as if the properties were sealed. They are still functioning. The truth is that they have been there for long. There is nothing new there.”

The EFCC had, in August, arrested three persons including the governor’s brother, Austin Umahi, and some people over a N400 million slush fund linked to the 2015 presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The suspects, all staff of Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited and Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort owned by the governor, were arrested following their refusal to honour invitations by the EFCC for questioning in an ongoing investigation involving both companies.

While the younger Umahi doubles as the chairman of both companies, Chinyere Egwuche and Marbel Dikibo (the other two persons) are also signatories to the companies’ accounts.

Investigations by the EFCC revealed that the N400 million was released by the Director of Finance, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Nenadi Usman, to the Ebonyi State chapter of the PDP for the 2015 presidential election.

The said funds were moved from a bank in Abakaliki on March 27, 2015, to another bank, where one Maxwell Umahi further moved N100 million and N300 million respectively into the accounts of Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited and Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort respectively.

One of the suspects, Egwuche, allegedly withdrew the N300 million paid into the account of Osborn La-Palm which, according to her, was used to finance further the construction of Osborn La-Palm Hotels in Abakaliki, Uburu and Port Harcourt, while the N100 million paid into the account of Brass Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited was transferred to a certain David Umahi Faith Foundation.

Meanwhile, the EFCC has made substantial breakthrough in its ongoing investigation of some judges of the Federal High Court.

Investigation revealed that operatives of the anti-graft agency have established “overwhelming” evidence against the judges, to warrant their trials in court.

It was learnt that most of the judges under probe could not explain the huge lodgements found in their accounts.

A highly placed source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it was mind-boggling that “one of the judges was found to (allegedly) own property in choice areas in Lagos and overseas.”

According to the source, “the commission will soon confront the National Judicial Commission (NJC) with overwhelming proof of evidence, to cause their suspension.”

He added that: “The EFCC is a thorough and professional anti-corruption agency, that recognises the rule of law, procedures and due process.

“When the commission arraigns those with whom prima facie cases have been established, the pub lic will get to appreciate the efforts and diligence put in the investigation process.”

The EFCC is investigating Justices Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, Mohammed Nasir Yunusa, Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa, Musa Haruna Kurya, Agbadu James Fishim and Justice Uwani Abba Aji.

At different times, the judicial officers had appeared at the Lagos zonal office of the anti-graft agency, for interrogation. Some senior lawyers, who were alleged to have induced judges, have either been arraigned, or quizzed.

For instance, Justices Yunusa and Nganjiwa are being investigated over allegations that they were offered bribes by Mr. Rickey Tarfa, and Dr. Joseph Nwobike, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs).

While Tarfa was arraigned on a 27-count charge bordering on alleged transfer of N1.5 million to Justice Nganjiwa, Nwobike is facing a fivecount charge before Justice Raliat Adebiyi of the Lagos High Court.

In another development, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State yesterday visited a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in EFCC’s custody in Abuja.

A statement by the Special Assistant on Media to Fani-Kayode, Mr. Jude Ndukwe, said Fayose arrived the headquarters of the EFCC at 2:15p.m., and was received by a team of operatives.

The governor was said to have encouraged the former Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation, to remain steadfast.

“The governor of Ekiti State, Peter Ayodele Fayose, joined the ever growing list of dignitaries paying solidarity visits to the detained former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.

“The governor visited Fani-Kayode in EFCC custody on Tuesday afternoon and spent quite some time encouraging him. He arrived the commission about 2:15p.m. and was received by a team of operatives led by one Mr. Madaki.

“He later departed the commission at 4:30p.m.,” Ndukwe said.

Barring any change in plan, the EFCC will arraign Fani-Kayode today on a fresh charge of alleged corruption.

8 years after, Ladoja’s corruption trial to finally commence in November 18.

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Eight year after he was first charged for money laundering, the trial of former governor of Oyo State, Rasheed Ladoja, can now properly take off.

Having lost his bid at the Appeal Court to have charges against him quashed, Mr. Ladoja will be re-arraigned for money laundering before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The court on Monday adjourned the till November 18 for the fresh arraignment of the Accord Party leader.

The Appeal Court, Lagos Division, had dismissed a bid by Mr. Ladoja to have the charges against him and his aide, Waheed Akanni, quashed.

The charges were filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Saheed Bagir, the judge who read the decision of the appeal court, upheld the powers of the EFCC to prosecute offenders under the money laundering act.

Mr. Bagir held that the provisions of Section 14 of the EFCC Act gave the commission the power to prosecute persons charged with the offence of money laundering.

The court also held that by Section 7(2) of the EFCC Act, the commission was also empowered to charge and prosecute the appellants in the suit.

The anti-graft agency had arraigned Messrs. Ladoja and Akanbi on a 10-count charge of laundering funds taken from government coffers.

The EFCC alleged that Mr. Ladoja used about N42 million to purchase an Armoured Land Cruiser Jeep and remitted about £600,000 to one Bimpe Ladoja in London.

The accused who were arraigned before Ramat Mohammed, a justice of the Federal High Court, Lagos pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.

But Mr. Ladoja filed an appeal to through his counsel, Wole Olanipekun, asking the appellate court to quash the charges against him arguing that they were vague.

Mr Olanipekun, a senior lawyer, had argued that the proof of evidence tendered before the lower court by the prosecution, had no connection with the charge against his client.

He said the charges are baseless as they did not show on first impression any case against Mr Ladoja.
He said the EFCC had no power, jurisdiction or authority to prefer the charge against Mr Ladoja and asked the court to rule that the case was baseless.

Responding, counsel to the EFCC, Festus Keyamo, urged the court to uphold the validity of the charge, adding that such objection ought to have been raised before the plea of the accused was taken.

He said the respondents had failed to take necessary steps when they ought to have done so, adding that the objection of the respondent has no basis in law.

The proceedings at the high court were suspended to allow the appellate court rule on the challenge brought before it by the respondents.

Code of Conduct: Saraki lied over Lagos property – Witness

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Prosecution witness, Mr. Michael Wetkas, in the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, said on Monday that the claim by Saraki that he bought a property in Lagos with proceeds of sale of rice and sugar was false.

Wetkas, who was being cross-examined for the 13th day by the defence, told the Danladi Umar-led CCT that the Senate President actually bought the properties at 17A and B, McDonald Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, in 2006 with proceeds of loans he obtained from the Guaranty Trust Bank.

Saraki is being prosecuted by the Federal Government before the CCT on 16 counts, including false and anticipatory asset declaration, which he allegedly made as governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, Wetkas was asked by the defence lawyer, Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), to read from the various asset declaration forms completed by the Senate President and earlier admitted by the CCT as exhibits.

In his asset declaration form of June 3, 2011 which he submitted at the end of his second term as governor, Saraki, declared that he acquired the property in 2006, and five others in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996 and 2000 with proceeds of sales of rice and sugar.

Meanwhile, he earlier declared in his asset declaration form dated July 11, 2007 for his end of first term as governor, and at the beginning of his second term as governor, that he acquired the properties through loan worth N497m.

The witness explained that the loan initially obtained was structured to be paid quarterly in five tranches but that as the then Kwara State governor, he was obtaining additional loans from the bank which led to the subsequent restructuring of the loan.

Wetkas, as directed by the defence lawyer, also read from the GT Bank statement of the Senate President covering the period 2005 to 2015.

The bank statement was earlier admitted by the CCT as Exhibit 7.

Wetkas confirmed that Saraki obtained three loans in the sums of N380m, N380m and N400m in connection with the properties acquired by Saraki.

He said, “In 2006, the balance was N9,779,109. 79m before the loan was credited. This first loan taken was used to pay the one before. The loan amount was N380m.

“The property it was used to buy was worth N256.3m. There was five per cent charge translated into N12,815,000. It was liquidated on February 5, 2007.

“When the loan was liquidated, it took the balance to a debit balance of N231,552,804.93. Then another loan was taken of N380m on the same February 5, 2007. The second loan was taken to defray the debit. It now gave a credit balance of N98m.

“As of the 2007 declaration, there was debit outstanding of the loan of up to N300m, which was not declared in 2007 declaration. There were other inflows into account the purposes of paying.

“On August 27, 2009, the balance on the account shows an inflow into the account of N100m through banker’s cheque. On July 31, 2009, it shows that the account was in debit of about N93,933,654.15.

“After the inflow of N100m on August 27, it went into credit balance of N6,066,345.6. On April 30, 2009, the account was in debit position of N17m. The on the same date, there was loan disbursement of N400m.”

Corruption: EFCC arrests Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia’s brother.

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Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), at the weekend, arrested a man believed to be the younger brother of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, as investigation of corruption allegation levied against her continues.

Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia is one of the eight judges suspended by the National Judicial Commission (NJC) after the Department of State Services (DSS) invaded homes of some judges between October 7-8.

Before her suspension, alongside other judges, she interrogated by the anti-graft agency, which granted her bail after she turned herself in.

Over the weekend, it was gathered that EFCC picked up her brother, who allegedly wired $150,000 into her Diamond Bank Domiciliary Account.

The name of the brother was not mentioned, but, it was gathered that investigators discovered that the amount was paid into the judge’s account sometimes in March 2014.

Spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren when contacted said he could not speak with authority on the matter as the investigation of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia and some other judges was being handled by the South-West Zonal office in Lagos.

“If there is need to quiz the woman’s brother, or even anyone connected with her, it will be done because the commission will not leave any loopholes to be exploited in court.”

However, a source familiar with the team handling investigation of the judges confirmed that Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia’s is in the custody of the EFCC.

But EFCC sources said the younger Ofili has not been able to explain to investigators how he came about the huge amount of money and why it was routed to the judge’s account.

The arrest was described as a major leap in assembling evidence against the embattled justice, in addition to properties traced to her in Nigeria and in abroad.

Earlier, a former Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) executive, Greg Ero, from whom Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia claimed she had borrowed funds to buy her home in London, was grilled by the commission.

Though Ero was reportedly not in good health, he was unable to explain how he came about the sums of monies he reportedly gave to Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia as a loan.

Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia is one of numerous judges currently under investigation by the EFCC for alleged acts of corruption.

Investigators allege she and other judges frequently accepted huge sums in bribe in order to tailor judicial verdicts in favor of those who offered the bribes, often elected public officials.

She was granted bail after detectives searched her home in Lagos and recovered documents showing that the judge had bought homes abroad and also, recently, on Park Avenue in Ikoyi.

The document showed that the judge, who once freed former minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode on a technicality on corruption charges, had wired at least $900,000 to foreign banks between 2014-2016.

“Bukola Saraki lied about buying a house from proceeds of rice.” – Witness

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Michael Wetkas, a detective of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, said Senate President Bukola Saraki borrowed money to buy a piece of property in Lagos, but that he claimed the money was from the sale of rice and sugar.

Wetkas, while being cross-examined on counts two and three of the 16-count charge of false asset declaration against the senate president at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), said the defendant borrowed the money from Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).

Paul Usoro,  Saraki’s lawyer, examined him.

Acknowledging the charge which read in part: “You (Saraki) falsely declared a property at 17 A and B Ikoyi, Lagos, which you said you bought from the proceeds of rice and sugar whereas it was a loan from Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB),” Wetkas insisted that it was? valid.

The EFCC detective said Saraki bought the property in 2006 from a loan of N400m from GTB, but that he allegedly did not declare it in 2011 at the end of his eighth term as governor of Kwara state.

However, Wetkas admitted that Saraki declared the property  in 2007 at the end of his first term as governor.

?Saraki had made several attempts to halt his trial at the CCT, but he failed at every turn.

He maintains that his trial is politically motivated.

The trial was in progress as of the time of filing this report.

Senate urged to confirm Magu as EFCC’s substantive chairman

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Anti-corruption groups have called on the leadership of the Senate to expedite action on the confirmation of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, so as to give the ongoing anti-corruption fight the impetus it desperately needs and help sustain the Buhari administration in curtailing impunity in governance.

This was stated in a statement collectively signed by Debo Adeniran, Coalition Againts Corrupt Leaders (CACOL); Lanre Suraju, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC); Adetokunbo Mumuni, Social-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP); David Ugolor, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ); Okey Nwanguma, Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN); Faith Nwadishi, Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Nigeria and Oluajo Babatunde, Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA).

This latest call on the National Assembly reiterates an earlier call made by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, in August 2016 in the wake of delays in the confirmation of Mr. Ibrahim Magu as substantive chairman of the EFCC.

The group, rising from the recently concluded National Conference on the Role of the Legislature in the Fight Against Corruption, organised by the National Assembly and the Presidency, noted that prior to the process leading to the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Commission, the National Assembly went on recess.

“Interestingly, the Senate has since reconvened, screened and confirmed justices of Supreme Court and Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) forwarded to it long after the submission of Mr. Magu’s name for confirmation as EFCC’s chairman by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Section 2 of the EFCC Act says “there shall be a chairman who shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the commission, and who shall not be below the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of police. He is to be saddled with the responsibility of running the anti-crime commission. The groups verily believe that Mr. Magu, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, meets and exceeds this requirement, and therefore his confirmation as EFCC Chairman without further delay will give the anti-corruption fight the boost it needs to end the culture of impunity and systemic corruption in Nigeria”, representatives of the coalition stated in a release.

Reuben Abati U-turn, Says He Doesn’t Have a Kobo to Refund to EFCC

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Detained former presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that he does not have any money to refund to the government, sources within the agency said.

The sources told newsmen that Mr. Abati told interrogators that he had no immediate means of sourcing the amount for which he is being detained.

The EFCC accuses Mr. Abati of receiving N50 million from the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

The money was part of $2.1 billion allocated for purchase of arms for the fight against Boko Haram, the EFCC says.

Mr. Dasuki is currently standing trial for allegedly misusing the money.
The latest development came days after Mr. Abati reportedly promised to refund N5 million.

The former presidential spokesperson has been in EFCC detention since turning himself in last week Monday.

Apart from being unable to refund the money, Mr. Abati also allegedly told investigators that he could not provide documentary evidence showing how he spent the N50 million.

Mr. Abati reportedly said he disbursed the money as cash and material gifts to journalists during the 2015 campaign.

Asked to name names of media practitioners who benefited from the largess, Mr. Abati said he did not keep such records.

“We thought he would be able to pay N5 million yesterday, but it turned out that he doesn’t have any money,” a source told PREMIUM TIMES Monday.

Our source also clarified that Mr. Abati had met his bail conditions since Friday, but the EFCC had refused to release him.
The EFCC had on October 26 granted Mr. Abati an administrative bail, and required as one of the conditions for his release, a surety of the level of director in the federal civil service.

Those conditions were met on Friday, our source said, but the EFCC failed to release him because of the stalemate over the N50 million.

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, did not respond to requests for comment.

(PREMIUM TIMES)

 

Desperate Forces are Trying to Bring Me Down – EFCC chairman

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The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has raised the alarm over a plot by desperate forces to tarnish his image.

He further denied allegations that he was blackmailing President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointees or traditional rulers.

The EFCC said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, that unscrupulous elements operating on social media were painting an uncanny picture of desperation by Magu over his purported non-confirmation by the Senate as the substantive chair of the EFCC.

The commission said the mission to bring down Magu is being sponsored by forces that are not comfortable with his campaign to rescue the nation from the grip of corruption.

The statement added, “In the last week or so, the social media has been awash with fictitious reports, all painting an uncanny picture of desperation by Magu over his purported non-confirmation as substantive chair of the EFCC, and of stricture within the rank and file of the EFCC workforce leading to resignations.

“One of such reports is the one making the rounds in several gossip blogs with the title, ‘How EFCC’s Magu and Sahara Reporters Peddle Lies to the Media’. The report which is a parody of disingenuous invention of falsehood is the handiwork of mischievous people hell-bent on causing disaffection between the Magu-led EFCC and the executive on the one hand, and the members of staff of the EFCC on the other.”

The anti-graft agency maintained that the EFCC boss does not bully anyone, and has not embarked on any mission aimed at blackmailing some highly placed personalities in the country such as emirs, President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointees or any other individual, lowly or highly placed in the society.

The statement added, “The allusion to bullying and victimization of EFCC staff is clearly designed to instigate the staff of the commission against its leadership as there is no truth in it. For the records, no ‘senior EFCC core official’ has resigned from the commission and insinuation of mass resignation at the commission is mere scaremongering.

“The same applies to the claim that a sensitive unit has been set up in the commission to ‘bug the phone line’ of some persons. This is mischief taken too far!.”

Obanikoro undertakes to return N480m, submits passports to EFCC

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A former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has signed an undertaking to return N480m to the Federal Government, The PUNCH has learnt.

Obanikoro has also submitted his United States of America and Nigerian passports to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

In addition, the ex-minister has provided two sureties who are directors in the Federal Civil Service.

Impeccable sources told our correspondent that these were part of the conditions given to the ex-minister for his release.

A source said, “The EFCC asked Obanikoro to submit his passports. He was only willing to drop his Nigerian passport but he has finally submitted the American one. He was asked to produce two directors, who must also present a three-month salary pay slip.

“He has returned N100m and has pledged to return N480m. The actual balance is meant to be N685m, but he was able to provide receipts for some transactions. He paid N85m to someone and that person has been traced.

“He also bought some bulletproof vehicles when he was minister and they will be handed over to the EFCC. The cost of the vehicles will be deducted from the amount that should be returned. Having met the conditions, he should be released any time from now.”

Obanikoro, who left the country around June 2015, was detained by the EFCC on October 17, 2016, after returning and surrendering himself to the commission in Abuja.

He was detained for his alleged role in the diversion of N4.7bn from the imprest account of the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The money was said to have been paid into the bank account of Sylvan McNamara, a company in which his two sons, Babajide and Gbolahan, were directors at the time.

Obanikoro reportedly told detectives that out of the N4.7bn, he paid N3.880bn to Ayodele Fayose and Senator Iyiola Omisore in July 2014, when they were the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidates of Ekiti and Osun states respectively.

However, detectives challenged Obanikoro with evidence that he also received N785m from the money and asked him to return it.

A source at the EFCC said, “Obanikoro claimed that he used part of his own share to do an anti-Boko Haram campaign in Lagos in 2014. However, we found out that he wasn’t telling the whole truth because some of the money was spent on his governorship campaign when he was contesting against Jimi Agbaje during the PDP primary.

“So, we asked him to return his own share of the money and he has promised to do so.”

Part of the money allegedly given to Fayose was converted to $5.377m and handed to him at Spotless Hotel, Ado Ekiti, in the presence of the then Ekiti State PDP Secretary, Tope Aluko, and other party stalwarts.

Abuja bizman loses filling station, complex to commission

Meanwhile, the EFCC has seized a filling station and a shopping complex from a man who described himself as a building engineer, Abdullahi Rilwan, for failing to explain where he got the money to buy the properties.

The EFCC Act Section 71 (b) gives the commission the power to commence investigations into the property of any person if it appears to the EFCC that the person’s lifestyle and extent of properties are not justified by law.

The EFCC said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, on Thursday, that Rilwan was also arrested for offences bordering on operating a land racketeering syndicate, criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of classified documents, obtaining by false pretences and money laundering.

According to the commission, the suspect was first accosted in the Kuje Area Council of Abuja during a separate investigation into the $2.1bn arms procurement fraud.

Detectives were said to have visited the area to verify the ownership of several properties suspected to be proceeds of money laundering.

In the course of investigating the ownership of a filling station and a shopping complex both still under construction, located along Pegi Road in the Kuje Area Council, operatives gathered that Rilwan was in charge of the construction work.

The statement added, “Rilwan, who was subsequently engaged, denied ownership of the station but confirmed he was the engineer in charge of the construction work. He admitted to being the owner of the shopping complex. He also told operatives that he was the owner of two companies, Kaibo Oil and Gas and Kaibo Properties, but could not account for his source of wealth.

“A visit to his office, however, revealed that he was involved in several shady and suspicious business deals.”

It was learnt that the revelation made EFCC operatives to beam its searchlight on Rilwan’s business activities.

Subsequently, on October 31, a search and arrest warrant was executed at his Kuje residence.

The statement added, “The search unearthed several implicating documents in his custody, many of which he uses to sell plots of land. Properties recovered from his residence in Kuje included letter-heads in the name of Kuje Area Council, allocating plots of land, an ‘Irrevocable Power of Attorney’ in favour of Air Commodore Bassey Inyang, a ‘Right of Occupancy’ document granted to Henryville Farms, Abuja, among other implicating documents.

“The filling station and the complex are currently under investigation and he would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”

I have no Kobo to refund to EFCC – Reuben Abati

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Detained former presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that he does not have any money to refund to the government, sources within the agency said.

The sources told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Abati told interrogators that he had no immediate means of sourcing the amount for which he is being detained.

The EFCC accuses Mr. Abati of receiving N50 million from the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

The money was part of $2.1 billion allocated for purchase of arms for the fight against Boko Haram, the EFCC says.

Mr. Dasuki is currently standing trial for allegedly misusing the money.

The latest development came days after Mr. Abati reportedly promised to refund N5 million.

The former presidential spokesperson has been in EFCC detention since turning himself in last week Monday.

Apart from being unable to refund the money, Mr. Abati also allegedly told investigators that he could not provide documentary evidence showing how he spent the N50 million.

Mr. Abati reportedly said he disbursed the money as cash and material gifts to journalists during the 2015 campaign.

Asked to name names of media practitioners who benefited from the largess, Mr. Abati said he did not keep such records.

“We thought he would be able to pay N5 million yesterday, but it turned out that he doesn’t have any money,” a source told PREMIUM TIMES Monday.

Our source also clarified that Mr. Abati had met his bail conditions since Friday, but the EFCC had refused to release him.

The EFCC had on October 26 granted Mr. Abati an administrative bail, and required as one of the conditions for his release, a surety of the level of director in the federal civil service.

Those conditions were met on Friday, our source said, but the EFCC failed to release him because of the stalemate over the N50 million.

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, did not respond to requests for comment.

BREAKING: NJC suspends 7 senior judges accused of corruption.

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The National Judicial Council, NJC, has suspended seven senior judges arrested in October by the State Security Service for alleged corruption.

The NJC had initially refused to suspend the judges despite public pressure, saying the allegations against them had not been substantiated.

It however said the judges had voluntarily stepped down from court sittings.

The latest decision came after the council’s 7th meeting between Wednesday and Thursday.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting, and signed by NJC’s Director of Information, Soji Oye, said the decision was taken to avoid allowing persons under investigation to to partake in presiding over judicial matters at the same time.

“Council also decided that Judicial Officers shall not be standing trial for alleged corruption related offences and be performing judicial functions at the same time,” the communique said. “Council however decided that it will ensure that Judicial Officers who are being investigated for alleged high profile criminal offences do not perform judicial functions until their cases are concluded.”

The judges were arrested on October 7.

Musiliu Obanikoro Returns N100m To EFCC

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Former Minister of State for Defence during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Musiliu Obanikoro has reportedly returned N100 million to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).Obanikoro was detained after he presented himself to the agency for investigations into the alleged receipt of N2bn from former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.Sources at the EFCC told newsmen that the Commission’s chairman, Ibrahim Magu had earlier rejected Obanikoro’s offer to return N100 million.It was gathered that Magu demanded a refund of N600 million within a stipulated time, but was rejected by Obanikoro“He refused to sign the pledge, saying the money was too much,” an EFCC source said.EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren also confirmed that Obanikoro has returned the money.Uwujaren said the agency is verifying the payment and continuing investigations.

We Can’t Hand Over Arrested Judges To EFCC – NJC

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The National Judicial Council has said it is not part of its statutory responsibilities to hand over judges who are accused of corruption to anti-graft agencies for investigation and prosecution.

The NJC also clarified that it could not recover proceeds of corruption and had no power to dismiss erring judges.

The NJC said this in a letter dated October 26, 2016, which it addressed to a human rights organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.

The letter was the response of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who is the head of the NJC, to SERAP, which had requested that the NJC should forthwith hand over the seven judges recently arrested for alleged corruption to anti-graft agencies.

SERAP, in a statement on Tuesday, said the letter with reference number, CJN/Gen/MISC/A37/Vol.XXI/8, was signed on behalf of the CJN by his Senior Special Assistant, H. S. Sa’eed.

According to SERAP, the NJC said its duty stopped at making recommendations to the executive after looking into petitions against judges.

It stressed that it could not take responsibility for the failure of the President and governors to implement the NJC’s recommendations.

The CJN said, “It is necessary to restate that the NJC is a creation of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) being established under Section 153 with its mandate clearly set out in Paragraph 21, Part One of the Third Schedule to the Constitution.

“This provision clearly stipulates at Paragraph 21(b) and (d) that the council may only ‘recommend’ to the President and the governors, the removal from office of judicial officers and to exercise disciplinary control over such judicial officers, which, in effect, is the extent of its power to discipline. Hence, the council cannot, suo moto, dismiss any judicial officer.

“The NJC can also neither ‘hand over’ corrupt judges to law enforcement agencies for prosecution nor recover proceeds of corruption, as you have suggested. It can merely recommend to act upon its findings, as it has always done.”

The NJC, however, restated his commitment to purging the judiciary of rot with the support of citizens by treating all petitions against judges appropriately.

It stated that to this end, it had enacted the Judicial Discipline Regulations, 2014.

The letter read partly, “However, in exercise of its constitutional mandate, the NJC has enacted the Judicial Discipline Regulations, 2014 in order to ensure that petitions are received, investigated and addressed as appropriate.

“As SERAP’s own report attests, 64 judicial officers have been disciplined within five years even preceding the institution of the new guidelines. Any failure on the part of the executive arm of government to act upon such recommendations cannot therefore be blamed upon the NJC.

“With due consideration to the contents of your letter, I am directed to acknowledge and address the concerns which SERAP have raised, which may reflect the wider opinion held by some Nigerians.

“While his Lordship, without doubt, appreciates SERAP’s concern for the incidence of corruption in the judiciary, it is indeed erroneous to conclude that the NJC has ‘felt satisfied with applying only civil sanctions and has not deemed it fit to hand over corrupt judges to law enforcement agencies for prosecution nor recover proceeds of corruption,’ as insinuated in your letter under reference.

“To be sure, every citizen of Nigeria, inclusive of judicial officers, are entitled to the protection of the law and a key provision of the constitution is the presumption of innocence, as enshrined in Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“I must also remind us that the seven judges, like all other persons, are entitled to a fair hearing as stipulated in Section 36 of the Constitution. As such, it would be presumptive and indeed preemptive to sanction the said judges without exhausting the proper procedure for their removal.”

The CJN expressed delight over SERAP’s concern and dedication to the course of justice, fairness and justness.

Justice Mohammed said with the support of all well-meaning Nigerians “giant strides will be made towards reaching the goal of a transparent, fair and equitable system of justice.”

APC Blasts Jonathan For Defending Dasuki

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More knocks came for former President Goodluck Jonathan over his defence that his erstwhile National Security Adviser (NSA) Col Sambo Dasuki couldn’t have stolen $2.1 billion funds.

The latest knock was from the local chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) which carpeted the former President of trying to cover what has been exposed for all to see.

The party wondered why such defence came from Dr. Jonathan at a time some of those partook in the funds have not owned up but refunding their shares to the federal purse.

It said the former President’s claim only confirmed that he knew how the funds approved to buy arms for troops fighting insurgents in the Northeast was diverted under his watch as the Commander-in-Chief.

In a statement by its spokesman Joe Igbokwe, the APC said there should be a limit to which a leader should rise in defence of his lieutenant with the mind-boggling revelations and overwhelming shreds of evidence that the arms purchase cash was diverted.

The party described as regrettable that the diversion of the security vote led to the loss of thousands of lives of both civilians and soldiers who were ill-equipped to face well-kitted Boko Haram insurgents.

It urged Jonathan to refrain from playing on the intelligence of Nigerians, whose future have been compromised by maladministration, betrayal of public trust and corruption that characterised governance under him.

The statement reads: “Even as we concede that Jonathan is a desperate bid to rehabilitate himself, we wouldn’t believe that a former president should be so contemptuous of the intelligence of Nigerians as to give the kind of defence he gave to Sambo Dasuki. We wonder what Jonathan makes the horrid details that are emanating from the Dasukigate issue with shocking evidence, confessions and even refunds made by those that participated in that monumental corruption.”

“To claim that Dasuki and his partners did not steal the arms purchase fund reveals the inner beliefs of Jonathan. One would have expected Jonathan to be cautious in seeking to advance very childish and inadmissible exculpation of his subordinates for glaring acts of corruption. We had expected that Jonathan would have striven to water down the lowly impression held of him by Nigerians and the international community by not deciding to be so patronising to clear cases of corruption by his subordinates.

“By Jonathan’s defence of Sambo Dasuki, we believe the time has come for the security agencies to pick up Jonathan to tell the nation all that he knows of the many cases of corruption that happened under him. We think that Jonathan knows more than he admits about the unseemly corruption that he presided over and should be brought in for questioning. It’s becoming indefensible for Jonathan to pretend he was innocent of the corrupt acts of his subordinates.

“While we condemn Jonathan’s cheeky defence of Dasuki, even in the face of monumental damning evidence, we want to state that the anti-corruption war is incomplete until Jonathan justifies his defence of corrupt subordinates.”

EFCC Uncovers N18 Million in Female Judge’s Foreign Account

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered a bogus financial transaction of N18 million in the foreign account of Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia.

It was learnt that the commission “stumbled on the N18 million wired into the foreign account from her domiciliary account for the purchase of a property in the United Kingdom (UK).

The judge was said to be under investigation for owning a foreign account and how the cash remittance came about.

A source in EFCC said: “Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia owned up to the money, but claimed it was a loan obtained privately from a family friend.

“The ‘family friend’, who is a chairman of an oil and gas firm from where the funds emanated, has been invited by the commission for questioning.

“So far, he had told operatives that the money was an assistance he rendered to her.

“Inquiry into the loan facility as claimed by both of them showed no formal agreement or documentation as to how and when the repayment would be made.

“However, the oil and gas company chairman is at present telling the commission the extent of his relationship and involvement with the funds, which was wired into the judge’s personal account sometime in 2012 while she was a sitting judge of the Federal High Court.”

Justice Ofili-Ajumogbobia is among the six judges being investigated by the commission for alleged corruption alongside some senior lawyers.

The other five judges include Justice Nasiru Mohammed Yunusa, Justice Hydlezira A. Nganjiwa, Justice Uwani Abba Aji, Justice Agbadu Jamus Fishim and Justice Musa H. Kuriya.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) had in February sanctioned Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia for misconduct on the bench.

The council barred her from elevation to the Court of Appeal or taking any judicial appointment.

A statement by NJC Acting Director of Information Mr. Soji Oye said: “The NJC, under the chairmanship of Justice Mahmud Mohammed, at its meeting on February 24 and 25, 2016 decided to warn Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and put her on the “watch-list” of the council for the next four years.

“The judge will also not be considered for any elevation to the Court of Appeal or any ad hoc judicial appointment till her retirement from the Bench.

“The decision was sequel to the petition written against her by Victoria Ayeni, alleging misconduct and injustice on the part of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia for failing to deliver judgment in Suit No FHC/AB/CS/31/2011, a pre-election matter between Victoria A. A. Ayeni and Olusola Sonuga and two Ors.

“She was also alleged to have adjourned the pre-election matter several times until the termination of the lifespan of the Ogun State House of Assembly. The decision of the Council on Justice

Father Kukah visits FFK, Obanikoro & Abati in EFCC cells.

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Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Father Matthew Hassan Kukah has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over the state of its facilities in Abuja, which he described as ‘clean and orderly”.

He made the remark Monday during an unscheduled visit to the Commission’s detention facility and clinic, where he felicitated with some of the inmates which included former ministers, Femi Fani-Kayode, Musiliu Obanikoro and a former Presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati.

The revered priest, who was conducted round the facilities by the acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu, expressed delight that the detainees appeared in high spirits despite the discomfort of temporary restriction. He urged them not to be downcast and to see their current travail as divine.

Kukah who prayed for the inmates before his departure, summed up his visit thus: “I discussed with some detained suspects like Femi Fani-Kayode, Musiliu Obanikoro and Reuben Abati; and I am quite pleased they are looking cheerful.

“I was also happy with the humility of the acting Chairman who took me round and the way he interacted with the detainees. This is what is important for our country so that nobody takes these kinds of things personal. I am happy I came.

“We are all staff of EFCC to the extent that we want a better country and we are doing what needs to be done. We’ll continue praying that God guides you, keeps you safe and ensure that we build a country that we all will be proud of.

“This country has suffered so much, but we hope and pray that we can bring the suffering and trauma to an end as we collectively fight corruption,” Kukah said.

Also speaking, Magu assured the inmates that their incarceration was not personal, stressing that “This is all about Nigeria and making it better. And I think there is a consensus around this,” he said.

Abati Still In EFCC Custody, Unable To Meet Bail Conditions.

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Five days after he was arrested, a former presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, is still in custody because he is unable to satisfy his bail conditions, PREMIUM TIMES understands.

Mr. Abati, a columnist, was arrested on Monday by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on allegations of financial impropriety to the tune of N50 million.

When operatives questioned him about how he spent the funds, Mr. Abati reportedly said he disbursed it to media practitioners in his capacity as the spokesman for the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

But he said he did not keep records of the disbursement when queried for evidence.

The journalist was subsequently granted an administrative bail that requires presenting a senior federal civil servant —preferably a director— with landed properties in Abuja.

“He will be released when he meets his bail conditions,” a source within the EFCC informed PREMIUM TIMES Friday.

Also in EFCC custody is Bala Mohammed, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who was taken into custody shortly after Mr. Abati’s arrest on Monday.

But Mr. Mohammed’s case is said to be more complicated, and he may not be released anytime soon.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the EFCC has procured a remand order from a court to hold Mr. Mohammed for a while.

He faces allegations of land racketeering which EFCC said came in several petitions from citizens who dealt with Mr. Mohammed while he was a minister.

Mr. Mohammed was said to have sold government land to private individuals and received pay for the transaction in cash. PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify those allegations claims.

 

EFCC To Seize Patience Jonathan’s Property Nationwide.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has begun moves to seize properties belonging to former First Lady, Patience Jonathan.

The commission started the probe in a bid to gather evidence against her, following the freezing of $20m traced to her.

EFCC has also set up a team of detectives saddled with the responsibility of identifying houses and property owned by Patience.

The operatives had been instructed from the office of the commission’s chairman to mark such houses.

The operatives are focusing attention on properties in Lagos, Abuja, Yenagoa and Port Harcourt.

“It would not be correct to conclude that the commission has halted the investigation into the activities of the former First Lady,” a source told Punch.

“The investigation is progressing and it is being handled by the office of the chairman of the commission.

“A team of operatives has been assembled to identify all her properties in the country with a focus on Abuja, Port Harcourt and Yenagoa.

“The responsibility of the team is to mark all such properties in preparation for a possible court action.”

Meanwhile Justice Babs Kuewumi of a National Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed December 7 to hear a suit filed by Mrs. Jonathan seeking to un-freeze her account.

EFCC had traced $5m to the personal account of the former First Lady. It froze the account domiciled in Skye Bank Plc last month.

Mrs. Jonathan’s troubles started when the commission froze the accounts of four companies traced to the Special Adviser to ex-President Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa.

The four firms identified as Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company had a total of $15,591,700 in their accounts.

EFCC grants bail to Reuben Abati.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has granted bail to Reuben Abati, reports say.

Abati was the presidential spokesman during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He was arrested by operatives of the anti-graft agency on Monday, October 24, 2016.

Abati was accused of collecting N50m from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.

As part of his bail condition, he was required to submit his International Passport and also produce a surety who is a Level 16 civil servant, according to Vanguard.

Dasuki is currently standing trial for allegedly diverting funds meant for the purchase of arms for the Army to prosecute the war against Boko Haram.

DasukiGate: “My story will be like that of Jesus Christ” — Fayose

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Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose has debunked the claim by former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, that he gave him (Fayose) part of the money he got from ex-National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Fayose said the claim by Obanikoro, who is currently in EFCC custody, that he collected some money from him, was a clear indication that he was drowning and looking for someone to go down with him.

Speaking with Sun, Fayose said despite the myraids of allegations leveled against him, he would come out pure.

He compared his current situation to the Biblical Jesus, who despite many trials, came out victorious.

He said, “I wouldn’t want to join issues with EFCC or Obanikoro. But I remembered very well that Obanikoro was firing very serious salvos at the EFCC before now.

“I remembered all his statements in the press, but this dramatic return, he did not stop at the airport and there was a clear entrance straight to the EFCC custody; it simply shows that there is a hand of Saul in the voice of Jacob.

“I’m used to all these conspiracies and the fact remains that in all these, Jesus is Lord, in all these, victory is sure, in all these, I’ve not lost any battle and I’ll not lose any. Let me believe that Obanikoro did not say all these because whatever you say, you would have to prove it in court.

It is not enough to just say it. If he’s saying all these to get out of trouble, it is just a drama of the moment. I know he is looking for ways out of the quagmire as his house was seized, his bank accounts were frozen and all that. May be, my brother and friend, Obanikoro is looking for easy way out so they have to heap everything on Fayose.

“I’m used to all these. In the meantime, I am busy as governor of Ekiti delivering good governance to my people. What they wanted during their conspiracy at my first tenure was to stop me politically forever. They didn’t want me to rise politically again; that was what all the first poultry allegation with EFCC in 2006 is all about but I won.

“Today, I can adjudge what would happen tomorrow by the victory of yesterday. So, their fear is my rising profile: their fear is – where is this Fayose going?

“Don’t you forget that in the Bible, the three wise men who came to greet Jesus Christ and who saw tomorrow about Jesus Christ just as the then King Herod too, saw tomorrow about Jesus Christ and he told the wise men to come back to him and reveal where Jesus was so that he could go and kill him.

“But the wise men didn’t go back that way. So, they saw my tomorrow and knew that I was rising. I’m going to be among those people that would take over from them. I have a future, I have greatness ahead of me and no greatness comes without a battle and struggle.

“So, they should keep their gun powder dry, behave like a responsible organization whose strength is in their coded investigation. They should stop messing themselves up. You see, nobody knows what would be the situation in two years time, but when we get to the bride, we would cross it.

“Again, if Obanikoro says he gave me such huge money, where did he get it from? Why will he take such huge cash like that? Why will an honourable federal minister of the country be saying that he took cash like this and gave to me?

“You can now see how EFCC operates, but we will talk about that when we get to court. They are only looking for ways for nexus, to link me at all cost, to destroy me at all cost.

‘It is just like in the Bible when they asked the people should we replace the thief with Jesus for the punishment but the people said no, it is Jesus we want.

“So, it’s Fayose that is all they want in all these drama, I hope that by now, they would have released all Obanikoro’s confiscated assets and property.”

EFCC Grills Senior Lawyers Who Allegedly Transferred Huge Sums To Judges

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At least three senior Nigerian lawyers reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes’ office on Thursday to answer questions over alleged transfer of huge sums of money into the bank accounts of some judges.

Paul Usoro, Gani Adetola-Kaseem, and Felix Fagbohungbe, all senior advocates of Nigeria, were at the EFCC’s Lagos office at about 9:15 a.m., a source at the Commission said.

“We have discovered that corruption in the judiciary is widespread,” said the source who did not want to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter.

“Those we invited were found to have transferred money into the judges’ bank accounts. We want them to come and explain the reason for the transfers. More are still coming, about 20 to 30 of them.

“Some Senior Advocates of Nigeria who have assisted the Commission in handling some of our cases in the past are also involved. Some of these lawyers had assisted us with useful legal opinions on several matters. So, we are in a dilemma.”

The source said the leadership of EFCC may have invited the senior lawyers following accusations that the Commission was planning to cover-up the activities of these senior lawyers to preserve their existing relationship.

The lawyers’ invitation followed last week’s visit to the Commission by some judges including Uwani Abba-Aji, James Agbadu-Fishim, Mohammed Yunusa, Nganjiwa Hyledzira, and Musa Kurya.

The invitations are part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in the Nigerian judiciary.

 Seven top judges were earlier arrested by the State Security Service, SSS.

The EFCC source said another senior lawyer, Niyi Akintola, was also summoned by the anti-graft body but he was unable to report because he had travelled to Abuja to defend a judge before the National Judicial Commission following a petition by a litigant.

Last week, Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, a judge recently sanctioned by the NJC, who was also invited by the EFCC, failed to honour her invitation.

Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia, who was barred from further elevation on the bench till her retirement, had yet to respond to the EFCC’s invitation as of Thursday.

“If any judge refuses to honour our summons, the EFCC will have no choice than to employ legal process to make him or her respect the law of the land,” the EFCC source said.

“We have accorded all the judges who came to the EFCC a lot of respect in line with international best practices.”

Credit:

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/213905-efcc-grills-senior-lawyers-transferred-huge-sums-judges.html

NLC Faction Accuses Wabba of Instigating EFCC’s Probe of Unions

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The crisis rocking the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has taken a new twist, as the Joe Ajaero’s faction has accused that led by Ayuba Wabba of instigating illegal probe of the finances of some industrial unions by anti-graft agencies, especially the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

But Wabba, who denied receipt of the petition, said there was no truth in the petition, saying even EFCC knew it was not true.

He, however, said a former response would be issued once he received the petition and promised to get back as soon he read through the petition.

But in the four-page petition to Mr. Wabba, titled Insidious attempts at destabilizing the Labour Movement: An urgent call to stop, dated October 20, 2016, by Ajaero, the faction claimed Wabba’ was sponsoring illegal groups in unions to undermine their leadership, negating the spirit of the movement.

The petition read: “Inviting the EFCC or other security agencies through proxies as a leverage to hunt labour leaders in Nigeria will not work.

‘’Pursuing the appropriation of state powers for purposes of resolving purely industrial relations issues is at best self-defeating and we can say very destructive.

‘’If what you have to offer the Nigerian state at this time is this distraction of negative deployment of its institutions and apparatuses, then it is unfortunate.”

‘’What some of us occupy ourselves with sometimes raises an ugly spectre about our innate capacities and capabilities which questions our claim to any form of leadership.

“We want to state that the aws of Nigeria individually and collectively have stated how union accounts are controlled. Trying to use any unconventional instrument of governance with the boast that their leadership have primordial affinity with yourself is rather un-comradely and a testament of deep frustration and cowardice.

‘’Introducing ethnic sentiment into the affairs of trade unions and the movement in general is the height of sabotage. A man that invites outsiders into a clearly internal disputes is like a man who gathers maggot infested firewood, you know exactly what will happen; Lizards will come for a feast.”

Stop EFCC from transferring my case to Lagos – Kalu tells court

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The former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, yesterday asked the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from transferring his case from the Abuja Division of the court to Lagos.

Kalu is, therefore, seeking an order of mandamus compelling the EFCC and the Attorney General of the Federation to try him in the Abuja division of the court.

The applicant, in a motion ex parte brought pursuant to order 34 Rule 1 [a] and 3 of the Federal High Court (Civil procedure) rules, 2009; and section 6[6] [a] of the 1999 Constitution, sought the leave of court to apply for the issuance of an order of mandamus compelling the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to remit suit No. FHC/ABJ/CR/56/07- Federal Republic of Nigeria Vs. Orji Uzor Kalu & 2Ors, which was transferred from the Abuja division of the court to Lagos back to Abuja for continuation of hearing.

In the application filed through his legal team comprising Awa Kalu (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Solomon Akuma (SAN), Chief Nwufo (SAN) and Chief Gordy Uche (SAN), Kalu also asked for an order that the leave so granted shall operate as a stay of all actions, matters or issues ancillary to or relating to or pertaining to or connected with the case, pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

Attached to the suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/845/2016 is a supporting affidavit of 16 paragraphs and an affidavit of urgency deposed to by one Ikechukwu Njoku, a legal practitioner.

The deponent averred that the suit brought against the applicant was commenced in 2007 after he left office as Governor of Abia State.

He added that after office, the applicant did not contest any elective office because he wanted to retire to private life and quiet life in his village, Igbere in Abia State.

According to the deponent, “due to the case brought against him by the EFCC, he temporarily relocated to Abuja to face trial alongside others charged with him.

“After he entered his plea of not guilty to all the charges and was subsequently granted bail by the court, his trial was delayed by some interlocutory applications that travelled to the Supreme Court.

“That in 2016, the Supreme Court ordered that the case be returned to the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court for trial. “That acting in strict compliance with the judgement of the Supreme Court, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta (3rd respondent), assigned the case to Justice Anuli Chikere for trial.

“It is the case of the applicant that all parties appeared before Justice Chikere on two occasions and the matter was adjourned due to pending appeal before the Supreme Court.”

The deponent further averred in the supporting affidavit that on the third occasion, the court ordered that the defendant (Kalu) alongside others should take their plea, which they did and were admitted on bail.

“That the court, alongside the prosecution and defence team, agreed for three clear dates and the matter was adjourned to December 6, 7, and 8, 2016 for definite trial, thereafter, all the parties left the court to prepare for adjourned dates.

“Surprisingly and without consultation with other parties and defence team of the applicant, the EFCC (1strespondent) which is the prosecuting agency approached the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court (3rdrespondent) and asked for a transfer of the case to Lagos judicial division of the Federal High Court,” he averred.

The applicant further stated that the 3rd respondent yielded to their request and transferred the matter to Lagos judicial division of the Federal High Court. It is the deposition of the applicant that upon becoming aware that the 3rd respondent has transferred the case to Lagos judicial division of the Federal High Court, he petitioned the acting chairman of the 1st respondent (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, through one of his counsel, Amobi Nzelu.

Furthermore, the applicant also submitted that he has been standing trial in the matter since 2007 and has never failed to appear in court on any of the adjourned dates and expressed his willingness to face his trial before any judge in Abuja or worst still in Umuahia where the offences were allegedly committed.

He contended that while the 2nd respondent (AGF) has constitutional powers to initiate, maintain and discontinue any criminal action in court, such powers cannot be used for persecution other than for prosecution.

He further argued that transferring a nine-yearold case from Abuja to Lagos is for persecution and not prosecution.

While accusing the prosecuting agency of engaging in forum shopping for a convenient court to convict him, he averred that he temporarily resides in Abuja and his team of lawyers resides in Abuja.

Patience Jonathan Claims $200m From EFCC

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Former first lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan has slammed a $200 million suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

She is asking the court to mandate the anti-graft agency to pay her the sum as damages for freezing her accounts containing $15,000, an action she claimed infringed on her rights.

She is also seeking an order of court, directing the unfreezing of her account and another order restraining the EFCC from taking further steps in relation to the said account pending the determination of the suit.

Justice Babs Kuewumi fixed December 7 for hearing.

The EFCC had on September 22 ordered the freezing of some bank accounts belonging to her.

The Commission said the action was due to the ongoing investigation into the alleged money laundering charge preferred against her.

When the matter came up for mention, yesterday, women numbering over 100, invaded the premises of the Federal High Court, Lagos, to protest the freezing order placed on the bank accounts of the ex-first lady.

Joined in the suit are  Skye Bank, a former Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripama-Owei Dudafa, Pluto Property and Investment company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Transocean Property and Investment Company Ltd and Globus Integrated Service Ltd.

When the case was called, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, announced appearance for the EFCC, while Mr Granville Abibo appeared for Jonathan.

Oyedepo informed the judge that the case was coming up for the first time, adding that some of the respondents had yet to be served with the court’s processes.

He said the case was not yet “ripe for hearing”, having been served with the processes on October 19. He asked for time to enable him file a response.

His submission was, however, not contested by counsel to the plaintiff.

Immediately, the court rose,  the  women carrying placards swooned toward a vehicle belonging to the EFCC, chanting solidarity songs in Ijaw and English languages.

Some of the inscriptions read: “Ijaw people are in solidarity with Jonathan”, “Unfreeze ex-President Jonathan’s wife’s account”, “We urge EFCC to abide by the rule of law”, “Women must be heard.”

In an affidavit in support deposed to by Mr Sammie Somiari, a lawyer, he averred that on March 22, 2010,  Mr.s Jonathan had opened five different accounts with Skye Bank with the assistance of one Damola Bolodeoku and Dipo Oshodi.

According to him, Jonathan who duly completed and signed the mandate forms later discovered that apart from one of the accounts that bore her name, the other four accounts were opened in the name of four companies belonging to Dudafa.

He said she also observed that the ATM cards of the said accounts were issued in the names of the companies, adding that she complained to Dudafa, who promised to effect the necessary changes.

He said Dipo Oshodi also promised to effect the necessary changes.

Somiari averred that Jonathan was not a director, shareholder or participant in the companies and the funds in the said accounts were solely owned and operated by her.

“Dudafa does not own any part of the funds in the said accounts.”

According to the deponent, the Skye Bank official, (Oshodi), did not effect the instructions of the plaintiff to change the name of the said accounts to her name, despite repeated request.

He stated notwithstanding the refusal of the bank to effect the necessary changes, Jonaathan had been using the said ATM cards without any interference.

The deponent averred that sometime in July, Jonathan discovered that the ATM cards were not functioning, and immediately contacted the bank, who informed her that a “No debit/freezing order” had been placed on the accounts.

“On further enquiry, the bank informed her that the accounts were frozen on the directive of EFCC as a result of ongoing investigation in relation to Dudafa.”

Jonathan, therefore, contended that she was never arrested or invited by the EFCC prior to the freezing order placed on the accounts.

She further contends that the freezing order on her funds on the directive of EFCC without an order of the court is unlawful and illegal.

Credit:

http://sunnewsonline.com/patience-jonathan-claims-200m-from-efcc/

Alleged N3.2b Fraud: Ex-governor Kalu Insists on Being Tried In Abuja

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Former Governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu has objected to the planned transfer of the criminal case against him and two others from Abuja division of the Federal High Court to Lagos.

He has applied to the court, via a motion, for among others, an order of mandamus compelling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to prosecute the case in Abuja division of the court.

He has equally filed a motion exparte, through his lawyer, Awa Kalu (SAN) for leave of court to apply for the issuance of an order of mandamus compelling the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to return the case marked: No. FHC/ABJ/CR/56/07 (Federal Republic of Nigeria Vs. Orji Uzor Kalu & 2 others), which was transferred from the court’s Abuja division to Lagos, back to Abuja for the continuation of trial.

Kalu also asked the court to direct that the leave so granted shall operate as a stay of all actions, matters or issues ancillary to or relating to the case, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

Kalu, his ex-aide, Jones Udeogo, and the former governor’s company, Slok Nigeria Limited were on September 27 this year rearraigned on a 34-count charge before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

They were, in an amended charge, accused of diverting about N3.2bn by the accused from the Abia State Government’s treasury during Kalu’s tenure as governor of the state.

Justice Anwuri Chikere, before who they were arraigned, granted them bail and adjourned to December 6 for the commencement of trial.

Kalu, in his fresh motion, said he was aware the case has been transferred to the Lagos division of the Federal High Court following a request by the prosecution.

Kalu stated, in a supporting affidavit, that the case against him and others were commenced in 2007 after he left office as Governor of Abia State, but that it suffered delay because parties went on appeal up to the Supreme Court. The case resumed on September 27.

He added that, due to the case brought against him by the EFCC, he temporarily relocated to Abuja to face trial alongside others charged with him.

He added that: “In 2016, the Supreme Court ordered that the case be returned to the Abuja division of the Federal High Court for trial.

“Acting in strict compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court, the Chief judge of the Federal High court, Justice Ibrahim Auta [3rd respondent], assigned the case to justice Anuli Chikere for trial.

“It is the case of the applicant that all parties appeared before Justice Chikere on two occasions and the matter was adjourned due to pending appeal before the Supreme Court.

“On the third occasion, the court ordered that the defendant [Kalu] alongside others should take their plea which they did and were admitted to bail.

“The court alongside the prosecution and defense team agreed for three clear dates and the matter was adjourned to October 6, 7, and 8, 2016 for definite trial, thereafter, all the parties left the court to prepare for adjourned dates.

“Surprisingly and without consultation with other parties and defense team of the applicant, the EFCC [1st respondent] which is the prosecuting agency approached the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court [3rd respondent] and asked for a transfer of the case to Lagos judicial division of the Federal High Court.

“The 3rd respondent yielded to their request and transferred the matter to Lagos judicial division of the Federal High Court.

“Upon becoming aware that the 3rd respondent has transferred the case to Lagos judicial division of the Federal High Court, he petitioned the acting Chairman of the 1st respondent [EFCC], Ibrahim Magu, through one of his counsel, Amobi Nzelu.”

Court To Hear Patience Jonathan’s Suit Against EFCC In December

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A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday fixed Dec. 7 to hear a suit by ex-First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, against the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, seeking to unfreeze her account.

Other respondents in the suit are Skye Bank and a former Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripama-Owei Dudafa.

Also joined in the suit are Pluto Property and Investment company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Transocean Property and Investment Company Ltd and Globus Integrarted Service Ltd.

The ex-first lady is demanding the sum of $200 million from the commission as damages for infringing on her rights.

She is also urging the court to issue an order discharging the freezing order and restrain the EFCC and its agent from further placing a freezing order on the said accounts.

When the case was called on Wednesday, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, announced appearance for the EFCC, while Mr. Granville Abibo (SAN) appeared for Jonathan.

Addressing the court, Oyedepo informed the judge that the case was coming up for the first time, adding that some of the respondents had yet to be served with the court’s processes.

He said the case was not yet “ripe for hearing”, having been served with the processes on Oct. 19 and is yet to file a response.

His submission was, however, not contested by counsel to the plaintiff.

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http://punchng.com/court-hear-patience-jonathans-suit-efcc-december/

EFCC Arraigns Driver For Duping Briton 182,064.99 Pounds

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a driver, Chinwoke Onyedinazu before Justice M. A. Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for duping a Briton, Paul H., the sum of One Hundred and Eighty Two Thousand, Sixty Four Pounds, Ninety Nine Shillings (182, 064.99).

He was docked on a nine- count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence. Onyedinazu was a former driver of Mr. Paul while he was residing in Nigeria. In 2014, Onyedinazu reportedly proposed a fish farming business to the Briton and the latter accepted the proposal.
He later relocated to his country but kept faith with the business idea of his former driver and transferred the sum of 182,064.99 Pounds (equivalent of N60,000,000 at that time) to Onyedinazu.

However, the driver never pursued the business proposed to Henderson but diverted the money into his own use. Count one of the charge read: ‘’that you Chinweoke Onyedinazu on or about 21st day of October, 2014 in Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud deceitfully obtained the sum of Ninety-Five thousand Pounds (95,000:00) from Mr. Paul H. a British citizen, whom you obtained his money under false pretence that you were offered a contract of supply of fish to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), a pretext which you knew to be false and you fraudulently made it, with the intent that he may believe it, and he believed it and acted upon it as genuine, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable by Section 1 (3) of the same law”.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him. In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, C. A. Okoli, asked for a date for the commencement of the trial and that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.

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http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/10/efcc-arraigns-driver-duping-briton-182064-99-pounds/

EFCC wants Fani-Kayode Dead – PDP

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The Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that the arrest and continued detention of the former spokesman of President Goodluck Campaign organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was because the agency wants him to die in detention.

A statement issued by the Spokesman of the Party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye Tuesday said re-arrest is the latest in a series of plans designed to further harass and intimidate our members and supporters using the security and intelligence apparatus of the Nigerian State.

Femi Fani Kayode was arrested in the premises of the Federal High Court, Lagos last week.

Prince Adeyeye alleged that at the time of his arrest, Chief Fani-Kayode was ill and taking medication.

“Since his arrest, he has been denied access to his medication and medical doctors who are
conversant with his medical history.

“As at the time of writing this statement, officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have continued to deny Chief Fani-Kayode access to his medication.

“The only conclusion that can be reached is that the APC led Federal Government and EFCC want Chief Fani-Kayode to die in detention.

“In the light of the prevailing circumstances where EFCC are detaining an obviously weak and ill man, this is an inescapable conclusion.

“These continuous violations of the constitutional rights and freedoms of the Nigerian people by the Buhari Administration must stop.

“The Federal Government cannot, and must not, be allowed to continually infringe on the rights of the very people it swore to uphold.

“We call on all well meaning Nigerians to urge the Federal Government to desist from its path of human rights abuses” he said.

Fani-Kayode ‘Slumps’ In EFCC Custody– Aide

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Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, slumped while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Saturday, his aide has said.

Mr. Fani-Kayode was promptly revived by a team at the EFCC’s medical facility, the minister’s spokesperson, Jude Ndukwe, said in a statement Tuesday.

“But for the quick and professional intervention of the medical team in the EFCC medical facilities, the story could have been different, it could have been fatal!” he said.

“We must commend the medical staff at the Commission’s medical facility. They were prompt in their response, and very impressive in their care. It is very heartwarming to know that some professionals have not allowed the political witch hunt and persecution of political opponents and perceived enemies taint their professional calling. We hope this extends to all facets of the Nigerian society.”

Mr. Fani-Kayode, who served as the director of media and publicity for the Goodluck Jonathan presidential election campaign team in 2015, was arrested on Friday by the EFCC on allegations of corruption. He had earlier been released after being held for 67 days.

The outspoken former minister is currently standing trial for allegedly receiving illicit funds from former National Security Adviser.

He denies wrongdoing, and accuses the Buhari administration of targeting him as part of a wider campaign to silence opposition politicians.

Mr. Ndukwe said Mr. Fani-Kayode’s health condition had been communicated to the EFCC, and blasted the commission for re-arresting him.

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Anti-graft war is boosting foreign investors’ confidence – EFCC

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The anti-graft agency in Nigeria says the fight against corruption by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has redeemed the image of Nigeria in the international community and has also encouraged foreign investments in the country.

The Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, made the assertion on Monday when he visited the headquarters of National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), in Kaduna State.

Speaking to reporters during the visit, the EFCC boss, stressed the determination of the Federal Government to rid the country of corrupt practices.

Mr Magu urged all Nigerians to support the anti-graft war in order to create a conducive environment for foreign investors to come in.

On his part, the General Secretary of the NUTGTWN, Mr Issa Aremu, emphasised the need for the government to come up with a national strategic policy that would give a strong backing in combating corruption at all levels.

He says the collapse of many industries in Nigeria was due to corruption and calls for total support to the fight against corruption.

The comment of the EFCC’ boss came on the same day the former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Reuben Abati, was taken into custody by the anti-graft agency.

He was spotted at the EFCC premises at about 5:30PM on Monday.

Abati’s detention may not be unconnected to the anti-corruption campaign of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration which has intensified with a clampdown on some public officials from the previous administration.

He has not been named in any of the ongoing corruption cases.

EFCC Arrests Ex-FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed.

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BALA Mohammed, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

At Press time, details of Mr. Mohammed’s arrest remained sketchy, but sources confirmed he was arrested and was at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Monday night.

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, could not be reached for comment late Monday.

EFCC Arrests Reuben Abati Over N100 Million Funds

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Reuben Abati, a former spokesman to former President Goodluck Jonathan, over allegations of financial crimes.

According to an EFCC source, Abati is being interrogated over allegation of collecting about N100 million from the former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki.

The source added that Abati is likely to be detained by the EFCC in its Abuja detention facility.

Credit: dailytrust

EFCC Recovers Over N325m From Politicians, Individuals In North-east

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has recovered N325,181,919.00 from politicians and individuals the Northeast zone and secured five convictions in its operations across the states there.
 
Aminu Ado Aminu, EFCC Head of Operations, made this known in Gombe at the weekend while recounting the successes from January 2016 to date within the zone. It comprises Adamawa, Bauchi, Plateau, Taraba and Gombe, which is the headquarters of the zone.
 
He said the recovered money included the sum of N183,590,000.00, from politicians within the zone as part of funds illegally sourced and used in prosecuting the 2015 general elections.
 
He further explained: “In line with the above, a total of 130 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff drawn from Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba States have been interrogated and will soon be charged to court for corruption involving the sum of N73,000,000.00 bribe during the 2015 polls.
 
“A breakdown shows that Gombe State has 26 staff involved, Adamawa has 86, and Taraba 18. We also have recovered the sum mentioned above from the INEC.”  
Credit: thisdaylive

EFCC to re-arraign Dasuki on November 16.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was given the go-ahead to consolidate the two separate criminal charges against former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

The application was granted by Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of the FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on Friday, October 21, 2016.

According to the an EFCC statement obtained from their website, “Dasuki (first defendant) alongside Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director, Finance and Administration, Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA; Aminu Babakusa, a former General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited are being prosecuted by the EFCC,  on a 19-count charge  bordering on money laundering and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N13, 570,000, 000.00(  Thirteen Billion, Five Hundred and Seventy Million Naira).”

The statement also said “Similarly, Dasuki alongside Bashir Yuguda, a former Minister of State for Finance; Attahiru Bafarawa, ex-governor of Sokoto State; his son, Sagir and their firm, Dalhatu Investment, are also being prosecuted for  a N13billion fraud before Justice Afem.

“At the last hearing on Wednesday, October 5, 2016, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, moved an application for the consolidation of the two cases to allow for diligent prosecution.

“Jacobs and Dasuki’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, then agreed before Justice Baba Yusuf to formally write the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello, to consolidate the two charges in the interest of Justice.

“The two counsels also urged Justice Baba-Yusuf to adjourn the matter pending the time the Chief Judge would consider the application for consolidation.

“Consequently, the matter was adjourned to October 21, 2016 to allow the two parties reach a consensus and present the outcome of their meeting with the Chief Judge.”

Sambo Dasuki allegedly diverted funds meant for the purchase of arms for the Army to prosecute the war against Boko Haram.

EFCC begins trial of ex-NAF chief, others over alleged N22.8bn fraud.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday opened its case against a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (rtd.), and 10 others being tried for an alleged fraud of N22.8billion before the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The EFCC called its first prosecution witness, Mojeed Olatunji, a compliant officer with Skype Bank Plc, who tendered some documents against the defendants.

Amosu, was arraigned on June 29 this year by the EFCC alongside two senior serving Air Force officers, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun and Air Commodore Gbadebo Owodunni Olugbenga and seven companies before Justice Mohammed Idris.

Companies named in the charge are Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd, Timsegg Investment Ltd and Solomon Health Care Ltd.

The EFCC accused them of conspiracy, stealing, money laundering, concealing of proceeds of crime and conversion of funds belonging to the Nigerian Airforce to their personal use around March 5, 2014 in Lagos.

They were also accused of concealing “proceeds of crime” and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the

Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 17(a).

However, the defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges, a development which made the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris to grant Amosun, Adigun and Olugbenga bail in the sum of N500million each with two sureties in like sum.

Judges Accused of Corruption Should go on Compulsory Leave – NBA

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The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has advised judges facing allegations of corruption to proceed on compulsory leave until their innocence is proven.

The judges are Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro (supreme court); Adeniyi Ademola and Nnamdi Dimgba (federal high court); Mohammed Tsamiya (appeal court, Ilorin); Kabri Auta (high court, Kano) and Muazu Pindiga (high court, Gombe).

On October 8, the Department of State Services arrested the judges after raiding their homes, claiming it recovered huge amounts of money, including foreign currencies from some of them.

The NBA had called for the release of the judges, threatening “consequences” if they were not released.

Speaking at a valedictory session held in honour of Sotonye Denton-West, a retiring appeal court judge, in Abuja, on Thursday, Abubakar Mahmoud, president of NBA, advised the accused judges to cease performing judicial functions until their innocence has been proven.

“My Lords, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, permit me to digress a little. I am sure that many here will be expecting me to make further statements on the ongoing events affecting the nation’s judiciary,” he said.

“I have, in the course of the last two weeks or so, made several statements and remarks on these developments. Our position is therefore well-known. We have emphasised our commitment to safeguarding the independence of the nation’s judiciary.

“That is corruption in the judiciary. On Thursday 13th of October at the meeting of bar leaders comprising past NBA presidents, past general secretaries and past attorneys-general of the federation, we reviewed very carefully the developments after listening to detailed briefings from both the attorney-general and minister of justice as well the secretary of the National Judicial Council.

“One of the resolutions we took was to set up a Task Force to urgently review the current developments and come up with clear specific recommendations on how best to clean up the nation’s judiciary and rebuild the confidence of Nigerians in our law courts. I am expecting the report of that task force in two weeks.

“In the meantime, we have continued with our consultations and engagements. We will be coming up with bold and clear recommendations, which we will pass to the National Judicial Council and the Government.

“In the interim, however, particularly having regards to what appears to ongoing accusations and counter-accusations between some of the judges and other personalities or agencies, it appears to the NBA that it is extremely important that the NJC takes very urgent steps to safeguard the public image and sanctity of the courts.

“We therefore strongly recommend that, without prejudice to the innocence or otherwise of the judges involved in the ongoing investigations, they should be required to recuse themselves from further judicial functions or required to proceed on compulsory leave until their innocence is fully and completely established or until the conclusion of all judicial or disciplinary proceedings.

“We believe this will be necessary in order to protect the sanctity and integrity of judicial processes that may involve the judges concerned and safeguard the public image of the institution.”?

Judge Ofili-Ajumogobia Busted In Fake Hospital Admission Scandal

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A Federal High Court judge, Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, has been busted by detectives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in a hospital admission racket in Lagos. Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia on Wednesday morning told EFC officials by phone that she was on admission in a Lagos hospital in Ikoyi to explain away the reason she could not respond to the anti-graft agency’s invitation for interrogation in the last two days.

A Federal High Court judge, Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, has been busted by detectives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in a hospital admission racket in Lagos.

Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia on Wednesday morning told EFC officials by phone that she was on admission in a Lagos hospital in Ikoyi to explain away the reason she could not respond to the anti-graft agency’s invitation for interrogation in the last two days.

Five other judges, Mohammed Nasir Yunusa, Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa, Appellate Court Judge, Uwani Abba-Aji, Justice Agbadu James Fishim and Musa Haruna Kurya had in the past two days responded to EFCC invitations.  Some of the judges were accompanied by their lawyers and were reported to be cooperating with EFCC operatives investigating alleged corruption in Nigeria’s judicial system.

Curiously, Ofili-Ajumogobia, one of the invited judges expected to show up at the commission on Tuesday called in on Wednesday to claim she was admitted into the “intensive care unit” of Golden Cross Hospital on Bourdillon Road in Ikoyi but an attempt by EFCC agents to pay her a “courtesy call” shows that she had not been to the hospital since October 13, 2016.

EFCC detectives, however, found that a medical staff of the hospital was trying to insert her name into their records as their patient.

When they could find her in the hospital they called her on her mobile phone to ask where she was; she restated that she was in the intensive care unit only to cut off the call as soon as EFCC officials told her they have searched the private hospital and couldn’t find her.

EFCC officials told Saharareporters that the medical director of the hospital has been invited to the commission’s office in Ikoyi to explain his role in the latest saga.

Probe by EFCC won’t distract me – Fayose

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Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has said he would not be distracted by the ongoing probe of his campaign fund by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He, however, advised the Federal Government to pay “attention to hunger and suffering ravaging Nigeria and its people and leave him alone.”

He said: “This project ‘Fayose must be implicated at all cost’ will definitely not put food on the tables of Nigerians and for all I care, the EFCC and its collaborators can keep running from pillar to post while I keep delivering good governance to Ekiti and its people.”

The governor, who dismissed the reported claim that former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, confessed to the EFCC that he received over N2 billion from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) under Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) to fund his election, said: “We have gone pass this stage of media trial, EFCC should rather keep its gun powder dry. When we get to the bridge, we will cross it.

“They said more than this in the 2006 poultry scam blackmail, despite that, I am the governor today.”

According to a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said he was only reacting just to fulfil all righteousness because Nigerians are more interested in having food on their tables, adding that “those who arranged the dramatic and compromised return of Obanikoro to Nigeria obviously did so in continuation of their project ‘Fayose must be implicated at all cost’ but I am not bothered because my election was legitimately funded.

“However, if this is why they are intimidating judges and the Judiciary, it won’t work as far as my own matter is concerned as no one can play God.

“As far as I am concerned, I am busy here in Ekiti attending to the welfare and well-being of my people. I won’t be distracted.”

Obanikoro reveals how he gave N1.7bn to Omisore.

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Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, yesterday, told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that he gave former Osun State Deputy Governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore, N1.7 billion out of the N4.7 billion he got from ex-National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Obanikoro had earlier confessed to the EFCC that he handed over $5.377m to Fayose.

A source told Vanguard that “The former minister, Obanikoro, has been cooperating with our operatives by giving detailed information regarding the N4.7 billion traced to him and companies linked to his sons.

“Obanikoro has confirmed that he actually transferred the sum of N1.7 billion from the NSA’s Office to Senator Iyiola Omisore but did not say why he did so and what the money was meant for.

“Obanikoro said out of N4.685 billon transferred to Sylva McNamara Limited, the sum of N3.880 billion was transferred to both Ayodele Fayose and Senator Omisore through cash and bank transfers.

“The dollar contents were handed over to Fayose personally by me in the presence of some party leaders and he collected it and took it to the room next to where we were all seated.”

The source further quoted the former Ambassador to Ghana as saying, “The location where I gave the dollars to him is called Spotless Hotel, Ado-Ekiti.”

“One of the party leaders that was present was Dr. Tope Aluko, who was then the Secretary of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. I transferred N1.7 billion to Omisore. The money was paid into his account and companies nominated by him.”

The source added that: “The former minister confessed that he never had any business dealings with Omisore and did not execute any contract for him to warrant the transfer of the huge sum of money from the ONSA to companies nominated by him.

“Omisore himself is under investigation. Obanikoro was very clear in the way the transaction was carried out. He did not mince words at all.

EFCC had in July this year arrested and detained Omisore over the money in question.

Omisore was later granted bail under stringent conditions.

Obanikoro Makes Shocking Confessions To EFCC, Throws Fayose Under The Bus.

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Former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro has disclosed how he gave Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, part of the N4.745billion made available to him by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

obanikoro fayose.jpg

The said cash was wired into the company, Sylva Mcnamara within seven months in 2014.

Obanikoro, who is still in detention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision, EFCC, said N2.23billion was transferred to Fayose. While $5,377,000 was given to Fayose in cash, N1.3billion was received by the governor’s associate, Mr. Abiodun Agbele.

He admitted that the N1.3billion was flown to Akure airport in two chartered flights for delivery to Agbele.

Obanikoro said he is not the owner of Sylva Mcnamara that was used to transfer the funds to Fayose.

A source told The Nation that “the sum of N2.2billion was transferred to Sylva Mcnamara for onward transfer to Mr. Ayodele Fayose on the instruction of the NSA.

“The sum of N1.3billion cash was brought in a bullion van by Diamond Bank on the instruction of the NSA.

“In addition, the sum of N60million was converted to dollars at the rate of N168 per dollar and altogether the sum of $5,377,000 was handed over in cash by me to Mr. Fayose while the N1.3billion was received by Mr. Fayose’s associate, Mr. Abiodun Agbele in the presence of my Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Lt. Adewale who also accompanied them to the bank along with the bank officials.

“I didn’t interact with the bank officials. I called Fayose before the funds were handed over to Mr. Abiodun Agbele. I spoke to Fayose with my phone at Akure airport.”

Obanikoro said he “took off with the first flight with part of the money while the second flight brought the remaining funds to Akure local airport and I directed that it should be handed over to the same person.”

The source added: “He told us that he is “ not the owner of the company in question but introduced the owner, Mr. Kareem Taiwo to the NSA, Mr. Sambo Dasuki when the threat of Boko Haram became more visible in Lagos.

“He said the government wanted to incorporate local input into the intelligence gathering and prevention of terrorist attack on Lagos and the South-West in general.”

Ekitigate: Fayose tackles Obanikoro over ex-minister’s confessions.

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The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has described the voluntary return of ex-minister Musiliu Obanikoro to Nigeria as “dramatic and compromised,” following the latter’s alleged confessions to the anti-graft agency, EFCC.

Mr. Fayose said he will not be distracted by Mr. Obanikoro’s reported confessions that he transferred N2.3billion to the Ekiti leader from the Office of the National Security Adviser to fund his 2014 governorship election.

The governor, in a statement on Wednesday signed by his Special Adviser on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said the report was a plot by the Federal Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to implicate him “at all cost.”

Mr. Obanikoro, who turned himself in to the EFCC on Monday, has been in EFCC custody since then facing interrogation on allegations of corruption and receipt of funds from the Office of the National Security Adviser without contract awards.

The former minister of state for defense arrived Nigeria on Monday after leaving the country in 2015 amid the corruption allegations. He was alleged to have facilitated the disbursement of the funds to Mr. Fayose in the build up to the 2014 election in Ekiti through Biodun Agbele, an associate of the governor.

A report by Punch Newspaper on Wednesday said Mr. Obanikoro had owned up to the EFCC on the transfers.

A source close to the former minister also confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Obanikoro was “cooperating” with the anti-graft commission and had written at least two statements to that effect.

But Mr. Fayose dismissed the report, saying it was the commission’s usual media trial.

“This project ‘Fayose must be implicated at all cost’ will definitely not put food on the tables of Nigerians and for all I care, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and its collaborators can keep running from pillar to post while I keep delivering good governance to Ekiti and its people,” he said.

“We have gone past this stage of media trial, EFCC should rather keep its gun powder dry, when we get to the bridge, we will cross it. They said more than this in the 2006 poultry scam blackmail, despite that, I am the governor today.”

While noting that his reaction to the report was only “to fulfill all righteousness,” the governor said “those who arranged the dramatic and compromised return of Senator Obanikoro to Nigeria obviously did so in continuation of their project ‘Fayose must be implicated at all cost.”

He however said he was not bothered because his election was legitimately funded.

“As far as I am concerned, I am busy here in Ekiti attending to the welfare and well-being of my people. I won’t be distracted,” the governor said.

He said the EFCC should also beam its searchlights on the funding of APC elections.

“Since we are now in the era in which financial assistance from Nigerians to fund elections is being criminalised, the international community, especially those funding EFCC must insist that the commission probes the funding of APC elections before further funds are released to the commission,” he said.

EFCC set to Invite Dogara, Lasun, others over N100bn constituency projects

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There are indications that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may invite the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, his deputy, Hon. Yusuf Lasun, Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, and Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, over the allegations made against them by the former House Committee Chairman on Appropriation, Dr. Jibrin Abdulmumin.

Abdulmumin, had among other issues, accused the speaker, other principal officers, and some House committee chairman of diverting N40 billion out of N100billion allocated to constituency projects in the 2016 budget.

The former Chairman on Appropriation, who was recently suspended for 180 sittings over his allegations against his colleagues, said that constituency projects worth N40 billion were shared among the principal officers without the approval of the House.

He also claimed that the speaker ignored his complaint that the chairmen of 10 out of the 96 standing committees of the House inserted 2,000 projects worth about N284 billion into the budget, among others.

He further alleged that his refusal to accept a request to insert N30 billion into the 2016 budget caused the rift between him and the leadership of the House.

A senior operative of the said in Abuja yesterday that the anti-graft agency was currently conducting a “discreet but thorough investigation” into the allegations made by Abdulmumin, disclosing that the investigation had reached an advanced stage.

“Our senior operatives involved in the investigation have grilled officials of 16 federal ministries in connection with the on-going probe into the allegations contained in a petition written to the commission by Abdulmumin, the source who spoke in confidence stated.

“Our operatives have gathered some evidence on some of the issues raised in the petition. The commission would soon send invitation letters to some of the members listed in the petition to our commission,” he said.

The source added that the investigation into the petition was “progressing smoothly”, saying that the investigation was being handled on a ministry-by-ministry basis and was going on well.

“Very soon, we will get to a point where those who have any case to answer would be summoned to make clarifications where necessary. In this fight against corruption, we believe nobody is above the law,” the source said.

EFCC traces N22m to firm linked to Fani-Kayode.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is investigating a company, ICON Environmental Cleaners, said to have link to the former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode.

A top operative of the commission, on Tuesday, said the operatives of the commission had traced N22m to the firm during investigation.

It was further gathered that operatives of the anti-graft agency were screening documents received from a bank to ascertain the role of one Mr. Oke in the transaction.

The source said the commission was making moves to come up with fresh charges against the former Director of Publicity of the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s Presidential Campaign Organisation.

The source stated that the commission believed Fani-Kayode received funds from the ONSA for purposes not stated.

It was stated that the commission had not confronted the ex-minister with the fresh evidence.

The source added that the EFCC was investigating the former minister in connection with N26m said to have been received through a police orderly on November 21, 2014.

It was stated that the voucher for the payment of the funds did not state the purpose for the payment.

The operative said when Fani-Kayode was confronted with the transaction, he denied submitting a proposal or receiving the money from the ONSA.

It was further stated that the operatives confronted him with the evidence of a picture of his police orderly collecting the money.

The operative also accused the former minister of refusing “to adhere to the terms of the administrative bail granted to him by the EFCC, part of which required him to come and sign at interval.

The commission is prosecuting the former minister for receiving over N800m from ex-Minister Nenadi Usman.

Why Governor Ayo Fayose led thugs to Access Bank.

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Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State was in his elements again on Monday, October 18, 2016, when he stormed an Access Bank branch with thugs and security detail.

He also threatened to shut down the bank.

It all began when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) instructed the bank to detain Precious Fani-Kayode, wife of former Nigerian Minister, Femi Fani Kayode.

Ms. Fani-Kayode was in Ekiti as guest of Fayose and had gone to the bank around 3pm to carry out a transaction.

Matters got to a head when Fayose got wind of the development and stormed the bank in a fit of rage to secure Ms. Fani-Kayode’s release.

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose 

Ms. Fani-Kayode was carrying an eight-month old baby with her at the time of her ‘arrest’.

She told Punch that she had been dehumanised by officials of the bank and the anti-graft agency.

“I’m not a politician and that bank account had been dormant for about five years. I only activated it last month in Port Harcourt.

“I decided to go to Access Bank to make some withdrawals when I was detained on the instructions of the EFCC.

“They told me the account had been frozen and they were asked by the EFCC to arrest me on the spot.

“I have been operating the account since 2005 when I was a student in the university. They had earlier frozen my two bank accounts which they have not opened till today and I have been waiting for them to invite me, but up till today, they have not.

“The balance in the account is just N200,000; so, I don’t know what their interest is. I’m a private person. I have not received any political fund; so, why are they trying to starve my family?

“That account has nothing to do with politics. This is dehumanising. I had to call the Governor to inform him of the development.”

Femi Fani-Kayode and Precious

As you’d expect, Governor Fayose was less than amused. He warned the EFCC against persecuting any of his friends in the future.

Fayose also added that he won’t allow lawlessness by a federal government agency take place in a State where he calls the shots.

“They can’t try that nonsense in my state”, Fayose said, literally belching fire.

“If they try it, there will be a showdown. They are over-stepping their boundary. This is a country that operates a constitution. What kind of molestation is this, taking away the rights of Nigerians because you are investigating?

“Must they terrorise people because they are in opposition? I have demanded an apology from the bank. If it fails to do that, I’m done with them. This is lawlessness,” the Governor said.

Fani-Kayode who ran the Jonathan re-election publicity campaign, also used the opportunity to aim more darts at President Muhammadu Buhari.

Fani-Kayode is under investigation by the EFCC for corruption. He was only just granted bail by the courts.

The former Minister said if the EFCC wants to see his wife, it should have invited her over, not go after her in a bank.

“This government is sick and cowardly and so is the EFCC”, said Fani-Kayode. “If you have a problem with me, face me and leave my family alone.

“My wife travelled to Ado Ekiti to see my friend and brother, Governor Fayose, and his family. They were on their way out of town when they went to Access Bank in Ado Ekiti to get some money.

“They were illegally detained, brutalised and put under arrest on the orders of the EFCC at a bank in Ado Ekiti today.

“She has never had any business with me; she has never been formally invited by the EFCC or asked any questions about her transactions and neither has it written to her on any issue even though it is always sending letters to my house and sending people there.

“If Buhari wants to deal with me, why doesn’t he face me like a man instead of trying to harm and hurt my eight-month-old son and wife?

“Had it not been for the intervention of Governor Ayo Fayose, they would have taken them away and subjected them to all manner of harm and indignity simply because she is married to me.

“This is Buhari’s Nigeria and we will resist his wickedness and tyranny.”

Fani-Kayode also described the actions of the EFCC as “primitive and barbaric”.

His words: “They have no right to do this. If they want to see my wife, all they need to do is to invite her. We have nothing to fear. They do not need to be so primitive and barbaric to people.

“In an attempt to starve and harass me and my family, all my accounts and wife’s accounts have been frozen.

“Now, they are resorting to arresting people’s wives and children for no just cause.”

Femi Fani-Kayode

 

The EFCC has however given a different account of what transpired.

While Fani-Kayode’s wife said only N200,000 was in the account, the EFCC said the account had N2,307,712.82 in it.

That’s plenty of zeros in between. Someone isn’t telling the truth here.

“Contrary to the spin about the purported arrest of mother and child, a certain Chikwendu Sonia today attempted to withdraw money from an Access Bank account that had been placed on ‘Post No Debit’ Category, following the discovery of illicit cash flows into the account.

“She was intercepted by the bank while the commission was notified, but because it was late, the EFCC advised that the suspect be taken to the police station for processing and release on bail.

“They were arranging to take the suspect to the police station when Governor Ayo Fayose stormed the bank with thugs and his personal security and forcefully secured the release of the suspect, with claims that the EFCC had no power to detain anybody in his state. He also vowed to close down the branch of the bank.

“The said account, which had a balance of N2,307,712.82, was flagged following investigation into the PDP Joint Trust Fund when the commission traced N1.1bn to the Zenith Bank account of Fani-Kayode.

“It was discovered that the account had two biometric identification numbers, one for Fani-Kayode and the other (with BVN 2205597283) for Sonia Chikwendu. The same BVN is linked to two other accounts in Diamond Bank and 15 accounts in Guaranty Trust Bank.”

In 2014, Fayose slapped and supervised the beating of a Judge, Justice John Adeyeye.

Fayose had said the Judge was rude to him.

How NIMASA transferred N8.5bn to JTF – EFCC witness.

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An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, witness, Teslim Ajuwon, yesterday, told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, that Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, under Patrick Akpobolokemi as Director General, moved the sum of N8.5 billion, into the account of the Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation Puelo Shield.

Ajuwon, a Compliance Officer with a first generation bank, stated this in his evidence at the commencement of trial of a former Commander of the Military Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe.

Atewe is being tried alongside Patrick Akpobolokemi, Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuaga over N8.5 billion fraud.

They are been prosecuted by the EFCC on 11 counts bordering on the offence.

Ajuwon, led in evidence at the resumed hearing in the case, the prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, narrated that on the whole, NIMASA made an in-flow of cash to the tune of N8.5 billion into the account of the JTF, Operation Puelo Shield.

He informed the court that between September 5 and 16, 2014 a total of N1.8 billion was moved from the said account, into the accounts of Jaggan Ltd, Paper House Service Ltd, East Point Services Ltd and Al-nald Ltd.

Percentage of recovered loots should be used to strengthen EFCC – Magu

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged a review of Nigerian laws to enable anti-graft agencies in the country retain a percentage of the loot recovered to fund their operations.

The Acting Chairman of the commission, Mr Ibrahim Magu, made the request at the national anti-corruption conference organised by the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC) and the National Assembly in Abuja.

The conference which began Tuesday will end Wednesday.

Magu said the review will be in line with international best practices.

“In some jurisdictions like the UK, proceeds of crime are further used to strengthen the agency,” he said.

“In EFCC, we have been struggling for years to build our headquarters and when I think of the billions of naira we recover, I can see what would have happened if we are allowed to apply a percentage of this recovery into our operations.”

The EFCC boss also advocated the amendment of the country’s anti-graft laws to place the burden of proof on the accused in corruption cases.

“One the issues that concerns us in the EFCC is that of non-conviction based recovery.

“It is of great concern to us that the burden is on us to prove in court that this is a proceed of crime.

“But in other climes the accused has to prove that the property he has, actually represents the fruit of his labour.

“There is the need for the Act to make a provision for an application of the proceeds of crime into recapitalising the anti graft agencies.”

Magu was represented at the event by Mr David Tukura, the Deputy Director of Planning, Policy and Statistics of the commission.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who opened the conference, called for more support from Nigerians for the Buhari administration’s efforts at recovering stolen funds from looters of the nation’s treasury.

Osinbajo lamented the state of corruption in Nigeria.

He said the country stands the risk of remaining underdeveloped if nothing is done to stem the tide of corruption.

The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, said the anti-corruption war being waged by the government should not be a tool for political witch-hunt.

“In order to succeed this time, we cannot afford to make the fight against corruption a simple matter. We cannot afford to make it a chase in the dark. It must be rooted in effective strategy and demonstrative plan.”

Saraki emphasised the need for the anti-corruption campaign to be a collective responsibility of Nigerians to rid the country of impunity and hardship.

The theme of the conference is : “The Role of the Legislature in the Fight against Corruption in Nigeria”.

How Fayose Stopped Us From Arresting FFK’s Wife — EFCC

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has accused Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state of preventing the anti-graft agency from arresting Chikwendu Sonia, the wife of Femi Fani-Kayode, who tried to withdraw money from an account already red-flagged by the agency.
The woman and her 8-month old child were reportedly detained by the EFCC.

But the EFCC in a late statement Monday denied detaining any one, while also revealing the role of Governor Ayo Fayose in frustrating the arrest.

Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman said Fayose stormed the bank in Ado-Ekiti with thugs to stop the arrest.

“Contrary to the media spin about the purported arrest of mother and child, a certain Chikwendu Sonia today attempted to withdraw money from an Access Bank account that had been placed on ‘Post No Debit’ Category, following the discovery of illicit cash flows into the account.

“She was intercepted by the bank while the Commission was notified but because it was late, the EFCC advised that the suspect be taken to the police station for processing and release on bail.

“They were arranging to take the suspect to the police station when Governor Ayo Fayose stormed the bank with thugs and his personal security and forcefully secured the release of the suspect, with claims that the EFCC had no power to detain anybody in his state.

“He also vowed to close down the branch of the bank.

“The said account, which had a balance of N 2,307,712.82 was flagged following investigation into the PDP Joint Trust fund when the Commission traced N1.1billion to the Zenith Bank account of Fani-Kayode.

“It was discovered that the account had two biometric identification numbers, one for Fani-Kayode and the other (with BVN 2205597283)for Sonia Chikwendu.

“The same BVN is linked to two other accounts in Diamond bank and 15 accounts in Guaranty Trust Bank”.

NIMASA ex-boss used committees to launder funds – EFCC

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An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Kanu Idagu, yesterday narrated how committees set up by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were used to launder funds running into billions of naira, before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

Idagu, testifying as a prosecution witness gave the evidence at the resumed trial of Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director General of NIMASA. Akpobolokemi is standing trial alongside nine others on a 40-count charge bordering on the offence.

Others charged are Captain Bala Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Captain Warredi Enisouh, Governor Juan, Ugo Frederick and Timi Alari. Also charged are two companies; Al-kenzo Ltd and Penniel Engineering Services Ltd. They had all pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail by the court.

Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr. Festus Keyamo, the witness told the court that as head of the EFCC Special task force, he co-ordinates investigations, as well as carry out searches and arrest.

He told the court that the force received a petition in the last quarter of 2015, of some activities in NIMASA, during the period when Akpobolokemi was DG.

According to him, his team embarked on the investigation and in the process, discovered that NIMASA had set up various committees some of which were used to launder monies through companies and the bureau de change.

He said that specifically, a committee on intelligence was set up and headed by the second accused, with an Access Bank account Number 0688939609, opened for the receipt of monies.

The witness said: “Between December 20, 2013 and July 7, 2015, the committee received money in tranches running into N1.5 billion.“The chairman of the committee raised several internal memos to the director of finance and accounts, wherein it was claimed that the funds were to be used for intelligence-based security activities.

“The companies used in furtherance of these activities were either owned or nominated by NIMASA workers for their personal use.”He told the court that one of such companies was Aler Integrated Services Ltd, whose alter ego was one Uche Obilor.

“Another company is Kofa Fada Ltd, a bureau de change company, which the second accused instructed Obilor to transfer the sum of N10 million into. The sum of N2 million was also transferred into the account of one Al-Kenzo Logistics, whose alter ego is the third accused, Ekene Nwakuche.”

After the witness’ oral testimony, the prosecutor then prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him to present documentary evidence. Consequently, Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned the case to December 15 and 19 for continuation.